Building Habitat for Humanity, right here in town

This article appeared in the York Independent 6/19/2009

Several of the members of the all-volunteer team working to see York’s Habitat for Humanity house built in the year ahead stand at the 8 Hemlock Avenue site donated by the town for the project. Pictured are Lori Barrett, Greg Gosselin, Mary Beckwith, Walter Woods and Gretchen Heilman. (Photo by Jennifer L. Saunders)

By Jennifer L. Saunders

YORK – York’s own Habitat for Humanity project will provide one lucky family with a place to call him.

“Our completion date is fluid as this is a volunteer-based initiative and we are looking to begin the actual groundwork in preparation for the home to happen in the coming week,” explained Greg Gosselin, director of Habitat’s York Build, on behalf of the all-volunteer committee working on the project.

The architect’s final renderings are also expected within the weeks ahead, according to the all-volunteer committee overseeing York’s Habitat for Humanity Build. “We have conducted the family interview process and have a good number of potential family candidates for this home,” Gosselin said. “The board is now reviewing the final candidates and within the coming week we hope to announce the family that will be selected to partner with us in the build of their new home. The family will be contributing a minimum of 400 hours to Habitat for Humanity in making their contribution to this build.”

The family eventually selected to occupy the house at 8 Hemlock Lane will receive a 30-year, interest-free mortgage from Habitat for Humanity. The Hemlock Avenue lot was one many properties approved by voters to be disposed of by the selectmen. While some of the properties are being sold to acquire funds for future building projects, the selectmen voted last year to donate the buildable lot to Habitat for Humanity for the construction of one house, pointing to the town’s need to provide more affordable housing options.

“I would like to thank the town of York, all the residents of York for making this all possible through the generous donation of the land for this build,” Gosselin said. “You will be a much richer community in spirit!” And, since the town agreed to donate the parcel to Habitat for Humanity, local organizations and businesses have begun signing on to help, including Rock Bottom Excavation and York Woods Tree Service, LLC, which are assisting with clearing the lot for construction. “We are very fortunate to have them,” Gosselin said.

Walter Woods, owner of Rock Bottom and York’s Graystone Builders, has also offered to help in another way - by choosing the York Habitat for Humanity project as the beneficiary of the annual community bonfire celebration and fundraiser to be held in September. “He has adopted the Habitat cause,” explained Lori Barrett, one of the volunteer members of Habitat’s York Build Committee. Members of the committee cited many reasons why they’ve become involved, ranging from the chance to, as Gosselin put it, “work directly hand in hand with a family partner to build their future home” to helping provide one more affordable home in an area where, even in this economy, affordable housing continues to be a challenge.

“The rising cost of real estate along the Seacoast in the last 10 years has made affordable housing nearly nonexistent,” Gosselin pointed out. “Even with today’s drop in housing values, the Seacoast communities are still out of reach for, say, a family of four with an income less than $60,000 a year. These are the folks that we see every day in our community working in small business, town offices and services.”

And residents can help in this effort, whether through making donations or signing on to offer volunteer hours to make the project a success.

Those interested in making donations can find miniature white houses with blue roofs and red chimneys - the collection boxes for York’s Habitat for Humanity of house - in businesses throughout town. Donations deposited will help fund the construction materials, estimated at about $100,000.

“From the point of breaking ground and moving forward, we can expect the average home build to take an average six months,” Gosselin explained. “This will depend on the very important volunteer support that we need and receive to complete the home.” Volunteer days are usually Friday and Saturday of each week and a site supervisor is being selected to ensure proper materials are on hand for each day’s work and to assign the volunteers to their tasks for each day. To volunteer to help with York Habitat for Humanity build itself, or for other ways to donate to the cause, visit the Habitat of York County Web site at www.habitatyorkcounty.org.