Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany plans to put deserving people in more homes this year than ever before.

Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West plans to construct 50 new homes this year, and East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity plans to build 24, putting the total of Habitat homes to be built this year at 74, which compares to pre-Katrina projections of one to two homes averaged per year.

Habitat West was founded in 1981 as the first Habitat affiliate in Louisiana and only the 10th in the country. Habitat East followed and was incorporated 11 years later in 1992.

Since their inceptions, the two chapters have successfully added 235 new homes to the Northshore’s housing market, but neither affiliate has plans of subsiding.

“Our slogan this year and next year is ‘help us go another 100 yards,’” Wendy Schneider, communications coordinator with Habitat West said, referring to their 2009 goal of 50 houses per year.

Habitat East has similar plans and has already set the same goal of 24 homes in 2008 for next year as well.

Both affiliates said they’re on track to completing their goals. Habitat West has 16 houses under construction with planned completion dates next month for each, while another 12 are already lined up to be built.

Habitat East currently has 10 homes under construction with no expected completion dates announced yet, but officials are confident they will build their projected 24 homes.

In addition to the 24, they plan to begin 12 additional homes in the latter part of this year to carry over to 2009.

Habitat is a nonprofit Christian, volunteer-driven organization dedicated to eliminating substandard housing worldwide.

However, Schneider emphasized the organization is not a home-give-away club. Applicants must meet strict criteria to qualify for a home. They also must donate some of their own time to help construct the home, and they are required to pay the nominal no-interest mortgage upon completion.

For more information, visit their Web sites at www.habitatstw.org and www.esthfh.org.