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Jun 2, 2006
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Jun 2, 2006
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| Online Phonebook | Sandhills Guide | Business News | National News |
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By Kirsten Beattie: Special to The Pilot In little more than a week, four sites in the Roseland Farms community outside Aberdeen will be transformed from foundations and stacks of plywood into houses. And four local families will find new homes and new leases on life.
Habitat for Humanity Interna-tional's Building Blitz, a national effort to build more than 400 homes in 130 locations in one week, begins today.
The four Roseland Farm homes, which will be built on Fellowship Way off Roseland Road, are sponsored by the Moore County affiliate and six local general contractors.
The week officially runs from today through Saturday, June 10, with a dedication ceremony on Sunday, June 11.
The general contractors, who are volunteering their services for the week, have enlisted the help of subcontractors and sought donations or discounts to reduce building costs.
As a result, building the homes is a true community effort. Beyond the efforts of Habitat and the builders, the four families, vendors, subcontractors, and local businesses all have contributed time, labor and discounted services and supplies, from building supplies to lunches for the workers.
"We've got so many supporters, it's just outstanding," said Ellen Airs, a publicity representative for Moore County Habitat.
Donated goods and labor will reduce the cost of each house, said Jennifer Butler, Moore County Habitat's Building Blitz coordinator.
"When the numbers come in, we'll see tremendously lower costs of these houses," she said.
The houses built this week will cost $65,000 to $75,000, said Elizabeth Cox, the executive director of Moore County Habitat. Based on the neighborhood, she said, the value of the house will fall nearer $90,000.
The lower building cost will aid Habitat's abilities to build more houses for the community, Cox said.
Careful Planning
Those involved in the Blitz say its success relies on careful planning and organization. Participating builders attended 10 one-hour, monthly meetings in the lead-up to the Blitz. Pat Falvey, project chairman of the Blitz in Moore County and one of the participating general contractors, said the builders are set to start.
"We've been planning this in 15-minute increments for months," Falvey said.
Efforts to organize the Blitz began last summer, when the affiliate learned it would take part in the Blitz. Moore County Habitat had to apply to the international organization to participate.
"They wanted to be sure the affiliates had the capacity to complete the project," Butler said.
The affiliate sought local builders to volunteer their time. The six companies participating are Bartlett Construction, Daniel Adams Construction, Dunagan Builders, Falvey Homes, Hyman and Johnson Construction and Pinehurst Homes.
The affiliate then took charge of developing the property for the homes, including preparing the site for the builders by having foundations laid and floor systems ready to go. The affiliate also worked with four families to prepare them for the move into their homes.
Families that qualify for Habitat houses currently live in substandard or unaffordable housing that takes more than half of their income; have worked for at least a year; can afford a Habitat mortgage; and are willing to partner with Habitat.
The average payment for a Habitat house, including principal, taxes and insurance, and a zero interest mortgage, is less than $325 a month, Cox said. Families pay their mortgage to Habitat, which then uses the money to build more homes. Moore County Habitat typically builds about 12 houses a year.
Cox emphasizes the significance for many of the families who are able to purchase new homes at a reasonable price. Many families, she said, have worked to improve their lives. Cox knows of at least three families in which the homeowner had once gone through a homeless program.
"The pinnacle is when they become homeowners," Cox said.
Habitat homeowners, in addition to proving their ability to maintain a home, earn their homes through hundreds of hours of service, in addition to paying monthly mortgages.
"We are not a giveaway program," Cox said. Habitat emphasizes partnership.
Each adult homeowner is expected to complete 300 hours of "sweat equity" before he or she is able to purchase a home from Habitat. Cox said sweat equity operates as evidence of a family's commitment to owning a home.
"It's almost like a working down payment," Cox said. "That's the real evidence of the partnership on behalf of the families."
The 300 hours, or 600 hours for a couple, include 12 classes on home ownership topics, such as the legal aspects, financial matters, and maintenance requirements of owning a home. Half of the hours can be donated by family members or friends. At least half must be contributed by the adult through the classes and through working on others' homes, on their own homes, or on Habitat projects.
‘A Lot Happening'
For this week's Blitz, the homeowners are unable to contribute "by lifting a hammer" in their own home, Cox said, because this project uses professional builders only. Instead, they will support the builders, bringing them drinks and snacks, keeping them company and helping clean at the end of every night. Family members also will have worked with other families or with Habitat.
"We're giving them a hand up, not a handout," Airs said.
Butler said the builders have been getting more excited as the start date has approached. While the Habitat employees wondered whether there would be any competition among the builders, Falvey was quick to say it is a team effort.
Kevin Bartlett, of Bartlett Construction, confirmed that the effort springs from good intentions.
"Just being able to help out is a motivation within itself," he said.
Falvey said that the event also is an opportunity to call attention to the need for affordable housing in Moore County. And for him, the Blitz is a meaningful experience.
"To me, personally, this is the most effective way that I, as a homebuilder, can witness to God and to my neighbors," he said.
While Habitat does not need volunteers for this project, community members who wish to still can help, Cox said.
"For this project, they can give money to help defray costs," she said. Or, Habitat will have other projects that volunteers are encouraged to support.
Community members also are invited to check out the action at the building sites.
"They're going to see a lot happening in a short period of time," Airs said.
The participating families are Cassandra, Steven and Kinta Harris; Jennie, Brandy, Jack and Bailey Barker; Guadalupe "Lupe," Veronica, Blanca, Leyda and Eric Palacios; and Terri, Stacey, Angel and Warren Armstrong. |
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