January 2011

Happiness is...

A Habitat Home!

A smiling Stacy Bickham
and her daughter Latisha

For three St. Tammany Parish families, the New Year brought with it a new place to call home!  Stacy Bickham, Jill Harley and Felicia Bourgeois celebrated the first day of 2011 in Habitat houses that they helped build or renovate.


"Stacy Bickham moved steadily through our program," says Lara Batchelder with Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West.  "She was a willing volunteer and conscientious learner, always asking questions about how to take care of her home.  Stacy is very proud of her new Habitat house," says Batchelder.

Jill Harley proudly holds the key to
her new home

Jill Harley, who also partnered with Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West, was the first NHS-Northshore customer to access both United Way and Southern University Individual Development Account (IDA) funds. Jill perservered with her savings plan and with the IDA matching funds, had $12,500 to use for closing fees and to buy down the cost of her home.

The Bourgeois family in the
dining room of their new home

For the Bourgeois family, who partnered with East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity, move-in day was Christmas Eve. 8-year-old Caleb and 4-year-old Makayla thought they were going to buy a Christmas tree.  Instead, Felicia Bourgeois pulled into the driveway of their Habitat house, explaining to her children that this was their new home! "This is the best Christmas ever, Mom," said Caleb.

For more information on eligibility for Habitat for Humanity programs, see below.

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Product Spotlight!
Requirements for admission into Habitat program:

• Live or work in St. Tammany Parish
• Income Eligible
• Need - Currently live in substandard or temporary housing, overcrowded conditions, or be rent-burdened etc.
• Willingness to Partner - Be willing to fulfill the sweat equity requirement (attend education classes, work at construction site, etc.), save money for closing, and accept the responsibilities of homeownership
• Ability to Pay - Be able to pay the monthly mortgage

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FREE Tax Preparation!!!
If you've paid to have your taxes filed, then you know it's an expensive transaction. Tax preparation companies charge anywhere from $150 to $400 to prepare a tax return.  That kind of money can be hard to come by.

Why not do yourself a favor this year and get your taxes done for free?  NHS-Northshore's Bogalusa Office is approved by the IRS to be a VITA site (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance).  What does this mean?  On January 28th between the hours of 8:30 and 4:30 residents of Washington Parish can walk-in to our office and have their taxes done for free!  Your return will be completed by one of our counselors or an IRS consultant.  If you can't make it on January 28th, give us a call.  We will complete returns by appointment only after January 28th.  If you have any questions or need to make an appointment, please call the Bogalusa Office at 985-732-0064.


Some restrictions do apply.  We will not be able to complete your return if you are self employed and we have to prepare a Schedule C form.

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Tip of the Month!!!

You may be able to take a Residential Energy Efficiency Property Credit if you made energy saving improvements to your home in 2010.  The credit is limited to $1500 over 2009 and 2010.  Qualified energy efficiency improvements that may qualify:

• Certain heat pump water heaters; electric heat pumps; central air conditioners; natural gas, propane or oil water heaters and stoves that use biomass fuel.
• Qualified natural gas, propane or oil furnaces; and qualified natural gas, propane or oil hot water boilers.
• Certain advanced main air circulating fans used in natural gas, propane or oil furnaces.
• Solar electric property, solar water heating property