Moses Lake woman receives free home

Grant County Housing Authority identifies recipient

MOSES LAKE - A Moses Lake woman will have her own house next week.

The Hayden Giving Fund is giving resident Elvia Lopez her own home in a celebration taking place Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. at 513 N. Florida Drive.

Giving Fund Executive Director Shon Agnew said Lopez was selected as a recipient through Grant County Housing Authority, who identified a pool of six potential people.

Interview conductors included a Hayden Homes project manager, a Hayden Homes sales agent, two people from the giving fund and a customer service representative from Hayden Homes.

Hayden Homes started the giving fund when founder Hayden Watson and his father believed it's important for people to be homeowners.

Hayden Homes is the builder, while Hayden Giving Fund is a non-profit organization who contracts with the builder to construct the homes. All money is fund-raised, provided by local trade partners and suppliers making donations and through donations made by Hayden Homes, Agnew said.

"We go through all the interviews, speaking with each other, and make the decision who is in most need at that time and ready to be a homeowner," she explained.

The home is sold to the person with a no-interest, 30-year loan with no down payment.

"The only thing we ask them to sign is a shared appreciation agreement," Agnew explained. "If at the time they want to sell the house, the appreciation of the house from the time they bought it to the time they sell it is split 50-50. Half goes to the recipient and half goes to the Giving Fund to provide more homes. We don't take any of their money, only what the house has appreciated in value."

The Giving Fund began in 1998, Agnew said. This is the 17th home given, and the second in Moses Lake. The Giving Fund covers roughly 26 communities throughout Oregon and Washington.

For people interested in applying for the program, Agnew recommends calling local housing authorities.