Why Wait For Humanity?

To the Editor,

We are currently enjoying the longest time in history without a recession. Fairfield County has the highest incomes of the country. Even without Fairfield County, Connecticut has the second highest incomes in the country. At this time, the cost of housing in Fairfield County is 20 percent higher than one year ago with the average selling price in Danbury at $250,000, Newtown at $363,000, and Ridgefield at $619,000. These may be prosperous times for many; however, for many others, housing has become unaffordable.

Housatonic Habitat for Humanity is a group of local volunteers working together with low-income families to build and rehabilitate homes using tax-deductible donations of money and materials. These families are able to purchase these homes by making a down-payment of one percent and investing 400 hours of hard work. The family buys the home at cost and pays a no-interest mortgage into a fund that helps to fund future building projects. In Fairfield County, the cost to build one house is $65,000, compared with the national average of $38,000. The buyer of the second Habitat for Humanity home in Newtown will be paying about the same for her mortgage on this three bedroom home as she is paying for rent on her one-bedroom apartment. This is enabling a dream to come true for a family that had all but given up on dreams.

Last December, Housatonic Habitat for Humanity representatives appeared before the Legislative Council as the Board of Selectmen made a recommendation to the Council that 31 Queen Street be sold in an “as is” condition to Habitat for Humanity for $20,000. The representatives from Habitat for Humanity felt this was an ideal house for their group as renovations can be done faster than having to build from scratch and doing site work and it is a more volunteer-intensive activity than building from the ground up. If this sale were to go through, the sale of the other Queen Street properties would more than make up for the difference of this property. This particular property is at the end of the pieces and would still leave the rest of the package of properties intact. Please note: It has been stated by Mr Rosenthal that the average cost for each of those houses for demolition is $15,000 and for the abatement of asbestos is $15,000. That equals a $30,00 cost to tear down versus a gain of $20,000 to sell one to Habitat for Humanity.

Each partner family invests hundreds of hours of “sweat equity” helping build its home, then buys the home at cost, paying a no-interest mortgage into a revolving “Fund for Humanity” to finance the construction of more houses. Upon renovation, this house will probably be assessed for $120,000 based upon a market value of about $170,000. This will add to the grand list and generate taxes. Currently this matter has been tabled by the Legislative Council until there is a decision on the Fairfield Hills situation. We feel this could take many more months, possibly years, and these homes are deteriorating at a rapid pace. Thus, we urge the Council members to please take this item off the table and reconsider the sale of one house, 31 Queen Street, to Habitat for Humanity. We feel this can only be a positive step for our community and the sooner we do it, the better.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Simon

Carol Mahoney

17 Jeremiah Road, Sandy Hook

20 Diamond Drive, Newtown                                       June 30, 2000