(MURFREESBORO) This coming Monday Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity is partnering with Hands on Nashville for a house rehab project in Murfreesboro as a special MLK Day. Guests from Habitat for Humanity will be on the WGNS Action Line on Wednesday, January 23, 2019 from 8:10-9:00AM.

The start of the renovations on the home at 712 State Street will be from 8:30AM to 3:30PM on MLK Day. It is for Future Homeowner Candace, a Murfreesboro woman who has survived many "life issues" including six heart attacks and several financial setbacks. Candace actually failed in the Habitat Homeowner program the first time around, but was determined to try again and change her life around.

This is the first time that Hands on Nashville has partnered with the Rutherford Co. organization and they have had a great response from over 30 volunteers. They will come from Asurion as well as Murfreesboro Electric Department.

The house was a former Habitat "transition house" used for families who were waiting to move into their new homes. It will be repaired and renovated between January and the end of March 2019. The House Dedication and Ribbon Cutting is slated for early April. Sponsors of the house rehab include General Mills, Hammer Down for Habitat, the Gannett Foundation, the Walmart Foundation and Women Build.

Like all Habitat Future Homeowners, Candace has been attending RCHFH's 50-hour Financial Literacy and Homeowner Education Program and is completing 300 hours of sweat equity. The program prepares homeowners who would not normally qualify for a standard mortgage to manage their money, create household budgets, lower their debt-to-income ratio, plan for the maintenance of their home, avoid predatory lending, and make sound financial and life decisions. Many permanently move out of a cycle of poverty.

Upon graduating from the program, they then buy their home at no profit to Habitat, through a 0-interest mortgage. Home ownership has proven to have a great impact on both the family and the community, including: better health, better school and work attendance, raised academic scores, revitalized neighborhoods, increased property values, reduced strain on government and municipal services, and increased tax revenue, among other positive effects.

Martin Luther King Day is an annual federal holiday that celebrates the birthday of Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and his commitment to community service. Throughout the country Americans are encouraged to honor Dr. King's legacy on this day by coming together for a national day of service and dialogue.

In 2018, RCHFH was honored to receive the Jerry Anderson Humanitarian Award presented by the Murfreesboro Branch of the NAACP on MLK Day 2018. The award was presented to RCHFH Executive Director Terri Shultz at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast Celebration at MTSU. It was named after Jerry Anderson, a Murfreesboro native who lost his life to save those of two drowning boys.

About MLK Day of Service

Martin Luther King Day is an annual federal holiday, celebrated the third Monday of January, that honors the birthday of Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and his commitment to community service. The holiday was established when Former-President Bill Clinton signed the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday and Service Act in 1994 at the urging of Coretta Scott King, Civil Rights Leader and U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) and former Sen. Harris Wofford (D-PA). The holiday is observed as a "day on, not a day off" and is intended to empower individuals, strengthen communities, bridge barriers, create solutions to social issues and honor Dr. King's vision of a "Beloved Community."

About Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity (RCHFH)

Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit, non-denominational Christian housing ministry, seeks to bring people together to build homes, communities, and hope. This is done through building quality, affordable, sustainable houses while partnering alongside low-income, working families. Homes are built by RCHFH construction staff, partner families, and community volunteers. After a home is completed, it is sold to the family at no profit with a zero-interest loan.