Building Blitz Creates Homes for Five Families in JCC

Building Blitz Creates Homes for Five Families in JCC Owning a home can mean a whole new - and better - life for a low-income family. The families buy the homes at no interest from Habitat, and they all have good credit and stable employment, Green says. Green has been watching the homes go up each day, and says, "this has been a wonderful experience," not just for her, but for the homeowners, who have to put in 400 hours of sweat equity into helping to build their own home. It has been an emotional time for the new owners along with their families, according to Green. "These families will go from being renters to being homeowners - and taxpayers," Green says. She notes that studies have shown that home ownership leads to fewer behavioral problems in school for kids as well as offering them more stability; it also leads to increased community engagement on the part of the homeowner. The local Blitz began June 2 and will run until the end of the month, though Wayne Harbin will complete its home by Saturday - that's just seven days to build one house. "This will be our first time building with Habitat, and Habitat's appearance on the top ten housing list exemplifies the need, faced all over the nation, for more cost effective housing. Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg is a nonprofit serving Hampton, James City County, Newport News, Williamsburg, York County and Poquoson. "It is our good fortune to be able to give back and serve the community in this way," says Brad Harbin, Wayne Harbin vice president. The payments made by the homeowner are used to supply home owning opportunities for further deserving families. The homes are usually appraised at around $200,000. Also, we give them classes… and teach them how to take care of it. This year's blitz will give 17 people a new house in James City County and a new lease on life, according to Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg Executive Director Janet V. It's great to see the kids running through [the partially-built homes] and picking out their rooms - it's just so touching. Local builders Charles Ross Homes, Garnett Construction, Earley and Associates Building Inc. Each builder will build one home of approximately 1,200 square feet with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. "They'll be putting down their roots here. "We believe in the Habitat cause on a national level and am more than honored to assist on the local level to build a new house for a deserving family," says Ken Earley of Earley es Building of Poquoson. , will build a total of five EarthCraft and Energy Star certified homes in the Irondbound Road redevelopment area. Building Blitz Creates Homes for Five Families in JCC Trade News selected by Local Linkup on 10/06/2012