Completion of Lavon Blount’s Habitat for Humanity home was initially set for before Christmas, in time for Blount and her three children to spend the holidays in her new residence, but a lack of funding for the project has caused a delay in building.

However, Blount’s thankful spirits have not lessened, even though her new home will not be ready until the start of spring.

“This actually works out better for me. It’s the holidays and I am busy at the store all the time,” the Athlete’s Foot employee said. “Now I won’t have to worry about moving in the middle of Christmas.”

Habitat workers said the purchase of necessary supplies will have to be postponed because the project is running out of money.

“We’re short on funds since the price of building materials has gone up because of Hurricane Katrina,” Habitat organizer Freddie Charleston said. “We are going to meet to because we need a plan to raise more money.”

Although volunteers are currently completing sheetrock work within the home and preparing the walls for painting, it still needs cabinets, flooring and vinyl paneling on the outside, Charleston said.

“We don’t know if we can get any of this stuff donated or what, so we still need funds,” he said.

Charleston said prospective donors can make contributions to Demopolis Habitat at Robertson Bank, Lindsy Gardner at the library, or Winston Mohammed at Supreme Wisdom Bookstore.

Ha also said the group is currently looking at an early spring completion date as long as funding comes through and everything falls in place as planned.

“That won’t be a problem for us,” Blount said about her and her family. “We just have to push for funds, but every delay happens for a reason.”