Special to the Herald
GUYTON – While attempting to express feelings of joy, relief, and appreciation Nov.16, Deputy County Clerk Tasheena Shiggs’ luminous smile got some unwanted help. The aid came in the form of tears.
Shiggs got emotional while officially accepting the keys of a new house from Habitat for Humanity of Effingham County President/CEO Jimmy Rutland. The gesture in front of a group of family members, friends, Effingham County coworkers and Habitat volunteers signaled the end of a vagabond lifestyle for Shiggs and her son, Zaiden, 10.
“The support has been overwhelming,” Shiggs said during a dedication ceremony on the front porch of her 4th Street Extension residence. “Honestly, I didn’t expect this.”
Shiggs shared the trials and tribulations of “couch surfing” for months on end. She and Zaiden were displaced after an August 2023 blaze in a neighbor’s apartment rendered their living space uninhabitable because of smoke and water damage.
“Despite the challenges I faced, I made the decision to never complain because I knew it would only make things worse,” Shiggs said. “I put on a brave face for my son, trying my best to hide the stress and (overwhelming feelings) I felt.”
Shiggs’ words flowed easily initially but her voice eventually began to quiver.
“What many people may not know is that this journey was simply not a result of chance or luck,” she said. “It was something that I prayed for and worked toward tirelessly. Every step I took was intentional and deliberate, knowing that home ownership was in reach.
“… I am grateful for the opportunity to have found Habitat for Humanity and embark on this incredible homeownership journey. The support and assistance I have received from the organization have been invaluable. Their commitment to providing a safe, stable and affordable place to call home has made a significant impact on my life.”
Rutland said many people misunderstand how Habitat for Humanity, a 501(c)(3) organization, works. It doesn’t give houses to anyone. It builds them with people in need and then sells them to qualified homeowner partners through no-profit loans.
Because houses are built principally by volunteers, mortgage payments are reasonable for families unable to obtain conventional financing. Habitat homeowners are required to invest hundreds of hours of “sweat equity” — that is, time spent building their own home, other Habitat houses, or working at the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
“Two hundred fifty hours (of work) is the minimum to get to where we are today,” Rutland said.
Habitat for Humanity, which has built 24 homes in Effingham County since 1995, provides benefits besides affordable housing. These include stimulating the economy by creating jobs and increasing local spending, fostering community engagement, promoting social inclusion, and boosting tax rolls.
Shiggs’ house sits among four Habitat for Humanity Houses built on property that previously was being used as a dumpsite.
“This was a piece of trash land that the county was getting $135 a year in taxes off of,” Rutland said. “We’ve come in here and put nearly $900,000 worth of houses in here. … We have brought up this part of the city.”
Rutland hopes that more people will step forward to help provide affordable housing through his organization.
“We need the volunteer help to make this happen,” Rutland said. “That’s how we can get (applicants) into an affordable home.”
Habitat is included in Effingham County government’s Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO) policy, which allows employees to receive their regular pay while spending work hours volunteering for approved charities or community organizations. Effingham County encourages social responsibility and civic engagement.
