Habitat creates informational video

By Michelle Symington

MetroWest Reminder Assistant Editor

WESTFIELD The Greater Westfield Habitat for Humanity, Inc., recently created a video, "Raising Hope by Raising Roofs," to educate the public about the organization and the work it does with the help of volunteers.

The 13-minute video premiered Saturday at the Second Congregational church in Westfield, and is available to local churches, organizations and businesses interested in learning more about the organization.

Frederick Doherty, president of the Greater Westfield Habitat for Humanity, said there have been misconceptions in the public regarding Habitat for Humanity.

"The key thing for us is to explain who we are and what we do," he said. "I am amazed at the number of people who have misconceptions about Habitat."

For example, he said, many people believe that the family selected for a home receives it for free.

"That is not true," he said, adding that each family who receives a home through the Greater Westfield Habitat for Humanity is responsible for paying a mortgage. The family also must put in a minimum 500 hours of what the organization calls "sweat equity," which may be completed by helping the volunteers work on their own home.

Doherty said many people believe that the government is involved with Habitat for Humanity by providing funding. He said that is also a misconception.

According to Doherty, the homes are built with the help of land donations or land acquired at a low cost, material donations, grants, volunteer work and monetary donations from individuals.

The video explains each step that the Greater Westfield Habitat for Humanity must go through to build a home through the eyes of the the volunteers, Habitat officials, who are also volunteers, and a Habitat homeowner.

The video was created with the help of volunteer media specialists. Bill Rhodes, who works for Channel 57, helped create the video, which was narrated by Dave Madsen, an anchor on WGGB 40.

In the video, Amy Dower, who was chosen to receive one of the two homes recently built in Chester, said she was living in a small apartment in West Springfield with her two boys, when a friend told her the Greater Westfield Habitat for Humanity was seeking applications. She applied

and was chosen.

The video explains that potential homeowners must fall under three criteria to be eligible for a home: they must show a need for affordable housing, must have the ability to repay a mortgage and must have a willingness to participate in the process by putting in the 500 hours of sweat equity.

The video also reinforces the fact that the government does not support the organization and that the homes are made possible through donations and volunteers. The homeowner must make a down payment and will have to pay a mortgage, which is interest free.

Westfield Mayor Richard Sullivan is interviewed in the video. According to Sullivan there was a piece of land in Westfield with a five family home in bad shape that was turned over to the organization.

When the city went through the request for bid process for the land, he suggested a not-for-profit agency come forward to build affordable housing.

The Greater Westfield Habitat came forward and built a two- family home on the property, which placed two families in new homes.

"It helped them realize the American dream of homeownership," he said in the video.

The video also highlights volunteers and businesses who donated time, materials and energy to build the the Dower's home in Chester

Sandford and Hawley donated the roof materials for the home. Baystate Plumbing and Supply donated sinks and toilets for the home and Home Depot donated many of the items for the kitchen. Kellogg Brothers also donated many of the needed materials.

All of the volunteers and donors in the video expressed the thrill they felt helping a family realize the dream of owning a home.

The video also expresses that volunteers do not have to have experience building a home. They just have to be eager to help.

The Greater Westfield Habitat for Humanity has been in existence since 1993 and has built four homes. The organization hopes to build a fifth home in 2006 in one of the 11 communities it serves.

Doherty said his ultimate goal is to build one house in each community it serves, which includes Agawam, Blandford, Chester, Granville, Huntington, Montgomery, Russell, Southwick, Tolland, West Springfield and Westfield.

Doherty said the most difficult part about building a Habitat home is finding the land, which is a problem the organization is currently facing.

"Land is so expensive," he said. "If we paid fair market value, it would break our budget."

He said everything the organization does to build a home comes out to cost about $100,000.

He also said he counts on donations of land or land that the organization can purchase for well below market value.

"Communities help us through foreclosures and repossession of property," he said. "We're hoping to build wherever we get land."

Doherty said he believes everything but the land is in place to built a new home this year. He said there are enough volunteers and business partners who could "really do a great job and do it quickly."

Once land is acquired, Doherty said the Greater Westfield Habitat for Humanity will send out notices that they are seeking applications and will have information sessions at local churches or schools explaining the process.

Any organization that would like to receive a copy of the video to learn more about the Greater Westfield Habitat for Humanity can call the office at 564-0707.

Any individuals who would like to help support the organization can send donations to the Greater Westfield Habitat for Humanity, P.O. Box 2115, Westfield, MA 01086-2115.