Craig Daily Press

Craig — Members of a local Habitat for Humanity chapter are on the lookout for their next project site.

A plot of land isn’t the only element the group needs. Habitat board members also are seeking affiliate status from Habitat for Humanity International and a leader to replace recently resigned interim President Pat Jones.

At their monthly meeting Monday night at the First Con­gregational United Church of Christ, Habitat board members reviewed Jones’ written resignation notice.

Jones is the executive director of Love INC of the Yampa Valley, a local nonprofit that acts as a clearinghouse for community churches. This year, she and representatives from other local organizations and churches took on the need for emergency and transitional housing in Moffat County.

“I just don’t have time to do both,” Jones said.

“I agree completely with Habitat for Humanity and will continue to support them,” she said.

In her absence, the Habitat for Humanity board will begin seeking “a handful of new people” to join their ranks, said Vicki Burns, board secretary/treasurer.

To date, no one has committed to assuming the board presidency.

The group also is looking to obtain affiliate status from Habitat for Humanity Inter­national.

The local chapter operates under Routt County’s affiliate. However, the Moffat County group manages many of its own affairs as an affiliate does, Jones said previously, adding that the upgraded status would allow the local group to apply for more state and federal grants.

The Moffat County chapter’s application for affiliate status was denied recently, Burns said, adding that Habitat for Humanity officials said the application was missing documentation.

“I was a little at a loss,” Burns said of her response to the denial.

The local chapter will remain in contact with Habitat officials to identify what elements, if any, are missing from the group’s application, she said.

In the meantime, the Moffat County chapter will begin looking for land to build its next project.

The group completed its first project last year, building a house at 745 Yampa Ave. for a single family.

This time, Habitat for Hum­anity is looking for something bigger. The group is looking to build a duplex to house two families. Burns said similar projects are completed by Routt County’s Habitat for Humanity affiliate.

The current real estate market is making that search difficult, Burns said.

“We haven’t seen something that would be affordable for us to purchase,” she said.