Jones move in
Habitat for Humanity dedicates number 46By DAVE PAYNE Sr., dpayne@newsandsentinel.com
Article Photos
PARKERSBURG - For the Jones family of seven, their little sliver of ground in south Parkersburg could not be more precious.
On Sunday afternoon, Shawn and Tanisha Jones - as well as their five children - officially became the owners of their new 720 eighth Ave. Habitat for Humanity home.
The home was the 46th dedicated by Wood County Habitat for Humanity.
Habitat homes are not gifts, nor are they homes in exchange for the volunteer work done to the homes of others during the process. Habitat sells the homes to the families and the Jones family, like any homeowner, has to pay for it.
That's why there's a bit more to the selection process for families than just "sweat equity," said Alvin Phillips, director of Wood County Habitat for Humanity.
"When we look to qualify families, we look at three things: the need of their current housing, their willingness to volunteer at least 350 hours and their ability to pay. We sell them the homes with a zero percent mortgage. It is a real blessing to be able to sell them this house. They have five children and it takes a lot to care for five children these days," he said.
Shawn Jones said the experience, which included two years of volunteering on others' homes, was "uplifting."
"This teaches us that people are not destined to be poor," he said. "You can do something about it. It has been a very emotional experience. You never understand your purpose in life until you reach out to help others. For two years, we've helped others with their homes. It was so uplifting when they said 'We have your lot.' This program lets us know that there is good in mankind."
The children - Shamara, 7, Brianna, 8, Shaianne, 12, Braedyn, 6, and Tamia, 7 - were running around in all directions on Sunday, inside and out, enjoying their new home.
It was certainly a far cry from their former rental apartment, where the children had to spend a great deal of time inside to avoid the turmoil often found outside, Shawn Jones said.
"We'd have to keep them inside a lot because of some of the things that were happening outside in the neighborhood. We had six bikes stolen from in front of our apartment. We'd get locks and that would take care of it for a while, but then, somebody would forget to lock the bike and it would get stolen. There were security cameras, but they said they can't do anything. I asked 'How come you can't use these security cameras to find out who stole my kids' joy?' because that's what they were doing," he said.
Now those restrictions are gone. The new neighborhood, he said, is a nice one. Now, the Jones are masters of their own castle, Shawn Jones said.
"The freedom is incredible. It is much different from the controlled (rental apartment) environment we were in, but those restrictions have taught us to be humble. There are so many things that we can do now. Now that the lid has come off, the question is, will we be able to contain it? Do we even want to contain it?" he said.
Tanisha Jones is making plans for beautifying the outside.
"We'll have a garden this summer and a flowerbed along the street. We're going to make this look pretty. I'm really excited about that. I can't believe it, we have our own house now," she said.
While the economic downturn has hit the construction industry particularly hard, Phillips said he hasn't noticed much difference in donations yet.
"We've really not seen a major increase. We actually had a very good end-of-year, but it's hard to tell. It will be interesting to see how this year turns out," he said.
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joyfultoo
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02-18-09 11:34 AM
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Of course he does and of course I will. not.
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CrazyLarryJones
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02-18-09 7:25 AM
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Rush speaks the truth. That scares the pants off the libs. The story was not about O'Bama, stay on topic.
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joyfultoo
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02-17-09 11:49 PM
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lol CrazyLarryJones, I agree. I think it's Alex's civic duty to report the girls to the police. And try to keep it clean too CrazyL, I mean my goodness using the word n*p and all when there could be children present. Alex, that n*ps that theory in the bud. You really don't have the ability to think beyond what Rush tells you. I've only met one other person in my lifetime with as rigid thoughts as you have and he was in the KKK and very ignorant and uneducated (not the same things). Obama for at least 4 years...now that is a very comforting thought for us all! Alex, why don't you make it your mission to make sure everyone in need of help gets it. I'm giving a donation to Habitat for Humanity because of this story. Maybe if everyone reading the story did the same, more people could get help and you wouldn't have to feel like it "isn't fair that they get the deal while others don't."
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CrazyLarryJones
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02-17-09 10:40 PM
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N i p is a bad bad word. I wonder if ass is.
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CrazyLarryJones
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02-17-09 10:39 PM
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Mr. Alex, the police have a gang task force here in town, I think it is your moral duty to inform them that those little girls are making false gang signs. We really don't want that here do we. Next thing you know they will be using chalk to make hop-scotch games on the sidewalk.****it in the bud right now sir.
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MrAlex
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02-17-09 7:52 PM
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And by the way, where do you think REAL gang members come from? They start out playing like they're in gangs, then when they get older and tougher, they get in to real gangs. And to those of you who think I'm wrong and think it would be wonderful to have gang kids as your neighbors, I DARE you to move to any big city and live on Martin Luther King Blvd. I dare you. You wouldn't do it, and you know it. So now you're a hypocrite. Trust me, it starts some where. Or maybe you think gang members just appear out of thin air in bigger cities. Stop putting me down, and go look this stuff up on the internet! You'll see I'm right.
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MrAlex
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02-17-09 7:46 PM
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Crazy Larry... you just don't get it, do you? You're not really this ignorant are you? I'm NOT saying those girls are in a gang. I thought I made that clear. Maybe not to you, though. I'm just saying the girls are flashing the fake gang sign that kids use when they're not really in a gang. Did I SAY they were IN an actual gang? No! But that IS the kid gang sign when they don't know real gang signs and they're not really affiliated with an actual gang. Have you never been outside of Parkersburg before? You've been too sheltered and you're not paying attention to society. Matter of fact, I just looked it up on the internet, and of course, I was right. Those are fake, play, gang signs. Grow up.
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MrAlex
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02-17-09 7:46 PM
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Crazy Larry... you just don't get it, do you? You're not really this ignorant are you? I'm NOT saying those girls are in a gang. I thought I made that clear. Maybe not to you, though. I'm just saying the girls are flashing the fake gang sign that kids use when they're not really in a gang. Did I SAY they were IN an actual gang? No! But that IS the kid gang sign when they don't know real gang signs and they're not really affiliated with an actual gang. Have you never been outside of Parkersburg before? You've been too sheltered and you're not paying attention to society. Matter of fact, I just looked it up on the internet, and of course, I was right. Those are fake, play, gang signs. Grow up.
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CrazyLarryJones
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02-17-09 6:59 PM
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Man, you are going to blow a hose on this one MR A. What gang do you suppose those little girs are in? Crips, Bloods? That one sure looks like she is showing some colors don't she. Now, how do you know that the photographer didn't ask a question that had two for the answer? My kids were kind of shy when they were little and would hold up fingers for the number.
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MrAlex
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02-17-09 6:47 PM
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And again, for the ignorant, out of touch liberals who think those girls are doing "cute little Peace Signs", remember that Peace signs are V's straight up and facing forward. I've been around enough to know what those girls are doing, and they're fake kid gang signs. You don't have to believe it if you don't want; keep your head burried in the sand, but that's what they're doing. Sorry. If you don't believe me, ask some teenagers who understand this stuff. Unless you are afraid I'm right. ...which I'm sure you are. Liberals are afraid of truth and what's really going on in the world. ...which is why we're now stuck with obama for 4 years.
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MrAlex
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02-17-09 6:43 PM
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crazy.
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MrAlex
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02-17-09 6:42 PM
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I do believe what I say. But liberals are so far "out there" that they can't face what's true. So they think what I say is wrong because they don't know any better. I'm just not afraid to speak the truth. If you can't face the truth, Joyfultoo, then that's your problem. You say you'd like to live next door to that family, but people like you change your story when the kids flashing those "oh, so cute" gang signs are getting older and breaking in to your car or your house. Again, I'm not saying these kids would do that. I don't know them. But I DO know that they are flashing gang signs. Fake or not, they're still doing the gang sign thing. Are you really that out of touch with our current culture that you don't know or understand what they're doing? Tell me you're not really that ignorant. But then again..... maybe you are. Crazy Jones seems to be out of touch, too. How can you NOT recognize those? If you think they're NOT gang signs, you're really c
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MrAlex
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02-17-09 6:37 PM
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WOW! You people aren't really that ignorant, are you? Yes, I'm educated. No, I don't work for the newspaper. And YES, those ARE gang signs. And that's just the problem; the ignorant liberals who think this sort of thing is OK. You'd rather live next door to kids in gangs rather than an educated, responsible adult who wouldn't steal from you or break in to your house. I'm not saying THEY would, but you never know. The signs those girls are flashing (for those of you who are OUT of touch) are "Fake Gang Signs" that kids do when they're NOT in a real gang, but want to pretend they're tough gang kids. Those are NOT peace signs. Peace signs are a V straight up. Those are made up Gang Signs! And trust me, I'm not the lease bit jealous of this family. I'm doing much better than they're doing. I just don't think it's fair that they get this deal while others don't. That's all. So you can put me down if you want, but you don't know what you're talking about, Joyful
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joyfultoo
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02-17-09 10:49 AM
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I forget who originated the theory but someone here suggested that Alex is a plant by the newspaper to stir things up and promote dialogue. I'm not sure if I believe that exactly but I suspect that Alex doesn't really believe the things he writes. They are so 'out there' as if he isn't capable of thinking things through. However, notice his punctuation and grammar. He's obviously an educated man. The stupidity he spews and the manner in which he writes are incongruent. But just in case, those are peace signs Alex.
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joyfultoo
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02-17-09 10:41 AM
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Alex, I'd welcome that nice, intelligent family as my neighbors over a jealous, petty, ignoramus any day. Surely you're not advocating abortion in your rants, are you?
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CrazyLarryJones
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02-17-09 7:00 AM
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Holy Crismodo, now we have little girls flashing gang signs. Right here in our town at that. What next? Escalades with rimz? How do you kow they are gang signs Mr A? Why are you so jealous that a charity is giving a helping hand? Would it make a difference if they were white? could that be it?
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MrAlex
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02-16-09 11:13 PM
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OK, I hate to bring this up also.... but did anyone else enlarge the picture of the family and take a close look at them? Two of the daughters are flashing GANG SIGNS! This is what those parents are teaching their kids? That this is OK to flash gang signs after getting a new house like this? Gang signs? Well, I'm sure glad they don't live in MY neighborhood. I don't want to live near gang members or any people who even THINK they're gangsters. Oh, excuse me.... I mean, "Gangstas." You'd think, at least for this ONE picture, they would tell their children NOT to flash gang signs! How stupid.
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MrAlex
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02-16-09 11:09 PM
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Helping is one thing; but this deal just isn't right. Yes, it's nice for the kids because this isn't their fault. But just because they can't afford a nice house on their own, why should someone give them this deal? Hey! I can't afford a $500,000 mansion.... so why doesn't someone build me one at zero percent interrest and let me pay back a fraction of the loan? Am I not entitled to a better living situation, too? Why them and not me? Why not some other family that works hard and can't afford better? This is just rewarding people for being irresponsible. STOP having kids if you can't afford to take care of them!! Why do people not get that?
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MrAlex
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02-16-09 11:05 PM
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I'm not saying it's bad to help people. My point is that why do some people get this kind of deal when they can't afford to have a house and they have too many kids... and yet others who are hard working and can't afford a brand new house, regardless of where it is, can't have one. Why is it "fair" for one family to be given a zero percent interest rate, while most of us are paying 4, or 5, 6, or 7% interest rates AND have to pay back the whole loan, while this family gets zero % and only has to pay back 75% of the loan. Why can't I only pay back 75% of my loan? Just because I was responsible, did all the right things, went to college, got a job, work hard every day, work two jobs some times just to get by.... but I can't get the same deal just because I didn't have more kids than I can afford to support and house? Once again, responsibility is forgotten about while lack of responsibility is rewarded. It's not fair to everyone who works hard and is responsible.
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CrazyLarryJones
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02-16-09 6:02 PM
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Good for the Jones family, no relation to me. This will keep them out of section eight and give them the dignity having a home of their own. If anybody is jealous, go visit Habitat and sign up. You will be able to start putting your hours in right away maybe. This is not a government handout, it is funded by donations.
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CrazyLarryJones
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02-16-09 6:01 PM
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Good for the Jones family, no relation to me. This will keep them out of section eight and give them the dignity having a home of their own. If anybody is jealous, go visit Habitat and sign up. You will be able to start putting your hours in right away maybe. This is not a government handout, it is funded by donations.
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BooksPleaseNow
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02-16-09 9:58 AM
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*TO give you what you need. Wow. I need to read more carefully before I post. : )
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BooksPleaseNow
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02-16-09 9:57 AM
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Having encountered this family on more than one occasion, I think the people slamming them for getting the house are being seriously unfair. They are kind and friendly people, and it's not for people on the outside looking in to judge their situation, really. Not only that, but you have no idea what situations might cause someone to end up in a position where they need this sort of help to get a house. I just hope if you fall on hard times, someone will be compassionate enough to you not to give you what you need. Also, at this point, isn't the number-of-children argument irrelevant? The situation now is that they exist and need a home. If you can't find it in yourself to be happy for the parents, at least be happy for the children who now get to really experience childhood. : )
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Dakota1
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02-16-09 9:53 AM
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The article doesn't say anything about the Jones family and what they do for a living. Most of the habitat families that I have heard about are already on government assiatance.....and now the local habitat group also takes government money to build the houses. Doesn't really sound above the board to me. A friend of mine got a habitat house here in Parkersburg and theres alot more to it than current housing needs, volunteer your hours and the ability to pay. They start digging into your background and your house is built where habitat wants to build it...not where you would like your family to live. The family has no choice. I helped my friend on her building lot a few times and was really upset by the volunteers that build the homes. They were nothing but a bunch of grumpy old know-it-all men. They don't really make you seem welcome. Habitat needs to take a look at their organization and make some much needed changes.
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realist
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02-16-09 9:43 AM
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alex check the details google habitat you only pay 75 percent of the loan. that is alot when you consider Ms Hughes price for her staying place you should haved axed for help then you could have kicked back and relaxed Our problem mine and yours is we are too busy paying for the programs to realize they are giveaway hush money gimmicks Oh well have to get to my job and hope to work long enough to get into the pension; social security; ponzi schemes before there broke. The joke is on the workers.
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