Date: Fri 23-May-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

Habitat-for-Humanity

Full Text:

to go with photos: Habitat For Humanity Starts Work On Sandy Hook Home

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

Members of Housatonic Habitat for Humanity (HHH) gathered Sunday on a rolling

field in Sandy Hook where the group plans to build two affordable houses for

moderate-income families.

The goal of building such houses in Newtown took a big step toward realization

as participants turned ceremonial shovels, breaking ground for the project on

the west side of Philo Curtis Road, just south of its intersection with

Riverside Road.

The two-lot subdivision will contain two owner-occupied, single-family houses

for moderate-income families.

John Loehr, HHH's president, made opening remarks, which were followed by an

invocation by the Reverend Kathleen Adams-Shepherd of Trinity Episcopal

Church.

The Reverend Mark Horton, the campus minister of Western Connecticut State

University, spoke, followed by remarks from First Selectman Robert Cascella.

The Reverend Steven Gordon of Newtown Congregational Church discussed HHH's

work in Newtown.

The Reverend John R. Gilchrist of St Stephen's Church of Ridgefield performed

a dedication ceremony for the two houses to be built on the site.

Monsignor George Birge of St Rose of Lima Church performed a benediction.

About 75 people attended the groundbreaking ceremonies under hazy sunshine.

Covenant churches which have signed an agreement to support the home building

project with prayers and resources are: First Church of Christ Congregational

of Redding, The First Congregational Church of Ridgefield, New Fairfield

Congregational Church, St Paul's Church of Brookfield, St Stephen's Episcopal

Church of Ridgefield, and Trinity Episcopal Church of Newtown.

HHH is an independent, non-profit affiliate of the international Christian

housing ministry Habitat for Humanity based in Americus, Georgia. Volunteers

and low-income families work together using tax-deductible donations of money

and materials to build new homes. Volunteers, churches, businesses and civic

groups donate or help raise funds to purchase materials, tools, services and

labor.

Houses are sold at no profit to families, and no-interest mortgages are issued

over a fixed period. The cost of the homes built is significantly lower than

market value. The small monthly mortgage payments made by participating

families support continuing construction. Homeowners volunteer their labor to

build the home they will live in, according to HHH.

The new homeowner makes a one percent down payment and contributes 400 hours

of "sweat equity" toward the project.

Claire Slattery, a single mother, and her two children will live in the first

house to be built. HHH will provide financial guidance to Ms Slattery in

connection with her taking ownership of the new house. A family to live in the

second house has yet to be chosen.

The two houses will be 1,200 square feet in area. One will be a ranch-style

house and the other will probably be farmhouse-style.

Each house will have three bedrooms and either one bathroom or one and a half

bathrooms. Construction of the first house by volunteer labor is expected to

take 24 to 28 weeks.

Many people have cooperated in the effort to get affordable housing built

locally.

In April, Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members modified their past

approval of HHH's subdivision plans for the affordable housing, thus settling

a lawsuit and allowing HHH to proceed with its plans.

The longstanding drive to build affordable housing had been delayed by a

variety of obstacles, the most recent of which was a lawsuit filed by property

owners adjacent to the development site who were seeking to block the project.

HHH will conduct a fund-raising breakfast for its Newtown home building

project on Thursday, June 12, at 8 am at The Fireside Inn, 123 South Main

Street.