GREENE – The house being constructed for a Greene family could be completed and ready for them to move in before the first of the year, according to representatives from Chenango County Habitat for Humanity.
“We broke ground in May,” said Habitat’s Olin Miller. “We’d love to have it done by Christmas.” This would be a huge accomplishment as each of the homes the organization has previously built in Chenango County have taken up to two years.
“We’re about a year and a half ahead of schedule,” said Sam Gainfort, Habitat’s local building committee chairperson.
Gainfort, who also serves as the project’s site supervisor, credits their accomplishments so far to the pool of willing volunteers in Greene. “Community support has been outstanding,” said Gainfort.
This sentiment is echoed by Patty Washburn, the project’s volunteer coordinator. “People in Greene are more than willing to help others,” said Washburn.
The roughly 1,500 square foot single-family home is being built on a piece of land donated to Habitat by an investor. According to Miller, the house that previously stood on the site was damaged heavily in the 2006 flood.
The donation came at the same time as Habitat was contacted by Washburn and other members of the Greene community about a local family in need.
According to Miller, Christine Dunlap and her husband Larry were struggling with “horrendous medical bills” after complications from injuries sustained in a car accident led to the loss of part of her right leg.
Many, including the prospective homeowners, consider Washburn the driving force behind the project. “She’s a dynamo,” said Christine Dunlap.
Washburn has been an advocate for the family throughout the process, even successfully lobbying for the inclusion of a therapy room on the home’s floor plan. The therapy room will be used by the couple’s two children, who are both autistic.
“I’m pushing just as hard as I can,” said Washburn of her continued efforts to motivate volunteers and garner support from the community and local business. Her local contacts have paid off, yielded both a local roofer and plumber willing to donate their time to the project.
Larger local employers have also expressed an interest in holding a work day at the site. According to Washburn, Habitat has been contacted by both Raymond Corporation and Frontier.
“They would be able to tackle a big job like insulation, drywall or painting,” said Washburn. “It would be a big help.”
Crews of volunteers typically gather at 9 a.m. on Saturdays and work into the afternoon. Local churches take turns providing lunch for the workers.
Washburn is always looking for more volunteers, no matter what their skill level. The volunteer coordinator is also searching for someone with general contracting knowledge. If she can find a person with those specific skills, willing to share the site supervision duties with Gainfort, work could continue during the week as well.
Washburn is also trying to raise money to help the Dunlap family cover closing costs on the house, which she believes could be as much as $3,000. They still have a way to go. Between a bake sale held on August 23 and a private donation, just over $400 has been raised so far.
According to Miller, a common misconception about Habitat for Humanity is that the home owners get a free house. That is not the case. The Dunlaps will purchase their new home before moving in. Habitat will hold the mortgage, which will be interest free.
There is also a substantial amount of sweat equity required. The Dunlaps must put in 350 man-hours as a family toward the construction of their new home. “They’ve been here every weekend,” said Miller.
Anyone interested in volunteering their time or making a contribution should contact the project’s volunteer coordinator Patty Washburn at 656-7610.