Becky, a stay-at-home mom, first heard about Habitat for Humanity through a friend in Franklin County who had also been selected to be a partner family.

Since she had been living in Mexico Beach, she contacted HFH of Bay County, but was instead directed to Tracy Melvin, president of the new Gulf County affiliate.

Though a common misconception, Habitat for Humanity does not simply give homes to low-income families. To qualify, families must be able to repay a no-interest home loan and demonstrate a critical need for housing. They must also be willing to commit a significant amount of time to the organization and the construction of their new home.

Melvin said the Kings’ willingness to partner with Habitat had been clear from square one.

By the time the family selection committee began conducting application workshops, David and Becky had already completed the necessary paperwork.

Over the course of two meetings, delayed to mid-July by Hurricane Dennis, 21 families expressed an interest in becoming involved in Habitat.

After becoming aware of the commitment and pledge of "sweat equity" hours, only eight families applied for a Habitat home.

Part of the application process required families to subject themselves to a credit check and home inspection, and after the family selection committee completed these, only four families were deemed eligible.

Melvin said a number of criteria – an inability to repay the loan, incomes exceeding the maximum level or a lack of need – disqualified four of the families.

One of the final four families lived in Wewahitchka, and after learning that Habitat for Humanity of Gulf County’s first home would be built in Port St. Joe, they withdrew.

Under the auspices of collecting more information, Melvin, vice president Bruce Allen and several members of Gulf County HFH revealed the good news to the King family at their home Saturday morning.

Becky said she had no idea that her family had been chosen, but David suspected only good news.

"They wouldn’t get the kids together to tell us we didn’t get it," he said matter-of-factly.

A proud father and roofer by trade, with his youngest daughter propped on his knee, David humbly thanked to group for making his family’s dreams come true.

"I could never afford to build this house by myself," David said.

After the hugs, handshakes and congratulations from Habitat members, he could not wait to give his boss, Steve Matincheck, the good news.

"He already told me whatever we needed just to let him know," David explained.

After the crowds cleared, Becky said she could not wait to get on the phone and call her friends and family.

"I wish I could just snap my fingers and everything would be done," Becky admitted.

The couple officially pledged their commitment to Habitat, and was introduced to John and Liz Schweers, chairs of the family support committee, who will begin helping the family with their commitment of sweat equity hours.

The Kings must fulfill a total of 300 sweat equity hours, 75 of those which will be completed before construction, like a physical down payment on their new home.

The family’s initial "sweat equity," Melvin said, will come in the form of home ownership classes with the Community Development Council and appearances at local events.

Eager to demonstrate their commitment, the Kings collected costume contest entry fees pledged to Habitat at Ghost on the Coast in Port St. Joe on Monday evening.

The next major Habitat event will be a "Thanks for Giving" benefit concert with Charlie and Dana Black and a reception for the King family on Nov. 19. The location of the event is yet to be determined.

After the King’s home is completed, tentatively by next July, Habitat will turn their focus to the north end of the county to build a second home according to Melvin.

She added that given the percentage of those who expressed an interest relative to the number of families that completed the application process, Gulf County Habitat is in line with the national average.

However, turnout was lower than they had anticipated.

"From an awareness standpoint, I think we failed," Melvin said, explaining that HFH is highly recognized only by its supporters. The low-income families living in substandard housing, plentiful in Gulf County, are still not clear on the organization’s mission.

With construction of the first home, she said, Gulf County Habitat hopes to more clearly communicate the organization’s mission to serve low-income families in substandard housing.

Gulf County HFH has identified several potential home sites in Port St. Joe, but the exact site is yet to be determined in the coming weeks.