Two families prepare to move into their new Habitat homes

Date: 5/23/2012

May 23, 2012

By G. Michael Dobbs

news@thereminder.com

SPRINGFIELD — For two families their new Habitat for Humanities homes mean a new chapter in their lives. For Mayor Domenic Sarno, the new two-family house on Quincy Street means another step forward in redeveloping the area in the Old Hill neighborhood.

The dedication of the home built by Habitat volunteers and the two families took place on May 17, the same day that HAPHousing presented an open house at 75 Quincy St. showing one of the six homes that agency built. Springfield Neighborhood Services has five homes in the neighborhood for sale. The homes are priced less than $110,000.

"This event showcases the value of a multi-entity collaboration," HAPHousing Executive Director Peter A. Gagliardi said. "This group of homes represents the most recent work of the city of Springfield, Springfield Neighborhood Housing Services, Habitat for Humanity, the Old Hill Neighborhood Council and HAPHousing to bring more owner-occupants to the neighborhood. Working together over the past several years, this group has replaced more than 40 distressed and abandoned properties with brand-new homes."

At the Habitat dedication, Sarno said that in a recent conversation with another Springfield resident he was told, "You're really turning around Quincy Street.

"And this is how you do it," Sarno added.

Generally, Habitat builds one family homes, but Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity Development and Communications Coordinator Emily Susan Gaylord explained the city property used for the homes was large enough for a two family. Each family owns their own home in a condominium-style arrangement, she said.

The families will move in soon, she said, as what remains to be done is finishing the front porches and completing the connections for sewer and water.

Monica and Erroi Frater and Rosa Clase own the house. Clase said, "I Thank God for giving me the opportunity of have a new home, our first home."

Habitat Executive Director Jennifer Schimmel commended Clase for her persistence. She, at first, was not selected to receive a Habitat home, but applied again.

Monica Frater, said, "I'd like to thank all of the volunteers and thank Habitat for the opportunity of owning a home."

Habitat Board President Bob Perry noted that usually there are many business partners in making a Habitat home a reality, but in this case, there was just one partner: the city of the Springfield. The house was built with Neighborhood Housing funds from the city.

Habitat started construction on the home last summer.

State Rep. Cheryl Coakley Rivera said, "It takes a village to raise a child, but it takes Habitat to raise a community."

The organization will start construction on four more homes this summer for victims of last year's tornado. Two of them will be on Quincy Street.