CARVER & PLYMOUTH, MA, ISSUED FEBRUARY 15, 2024 – Habitat for Humanity Greater Plymouth (HFHGP) officially welcomed its newest family, which has been selected to own the organization’s newest property located at Indian Avenue in Plymouth, at a Family Welcome Ceremony held at the build site on February 8.
The local family was informed of their selection last month, after an in-depth application and subsequent lottery process for income-qualified households. The family of four includes two young children and is currently living with extended family in Plymouth. They have already started contributing their “sweat equity” hours to the construction process, which are accumulated by working alongside volunteers on construction, landscaping, site clean-up, fundraising, office & ReStore assistance and other tasks. As part of the Habitat for Humanity model, each person over the age of 18 living in the house is required to contribute 250 sweat equity hours.
Under Habitat’s unique program, volunteers provide nearly all of the home construction labor. HFHGP is always seeking volunteers to lend a hand on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; no construction experience is necessary. Construction supervisors train and oversee the daily work.
The home on Indian Avenue was a former cottage that had been gutted by the prior owner. HFHGP purchased the property with Community Development Block Grant funds facilitated through the Town of Plymouth’s Office of Community Development. The organization tore down a dilapidated shed, expanded the home’s overall footprint with a two-story addition and is rehabbing the original cottage to create a modest three-bedroom home. Construction is anticipated to wrap up later this spring, with hopes that the family can move in by summer.
“Being housing insecure affects so much more than what address you use – overall health and well-being start at having safe, secure, affordable housing,” said Nicole Joy Hales, HFHGP Board Chair, at the ceremony. “This is why our treasured volunteers spend day after day on build sites, and countless hours making sure people in our community know that that we can help them own a home and guide them through the application process. Because every person deserves a place to call home.”
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth received additional major project funding support from Town of Plymouth Community Preservation Funds, The Pinehills Affordable Housing Charitable Trust, and Plymouth Affordable Housing Trust. With support from Senator Susan Moran, Representative Mathew Muratore, and Representative Kathy LaNatra, HFHGP also received important organizational funding through an earmark in the FY24 state budget to support affordable housing development.
Additionally, so far the project has garnered trade and business support from A.D. Makepeace, Acella Construction, Alside, Aboud Alzaim of AJA Engineering, Allan Costa of Triffletti & Costa, P.C., Cape Cod Ready Mix, Civil Engineer David Drain, Architect Tracy Marquis, Lowe’s, Mid-Cape Home Centers, Northeast Portable Restrooms, Shea Concrete, Viola Roofing, Brenda Sutherland of RE/MAX, and Webby Engineering.
For more information, to sign up to volunteer or to donate, please visit www.hfhplymouth.org/how-to-help/volunteer/.
About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth, Inc.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth, Inc. is a registered non-profit organization with a mission of providing decent affordable housing in the region. Their office, along with its ReStore, is located at 160 N. Main Street in Carver and the service area includes Plymouth, Kingston, Carver, Middleboro, Plympton and Lakeville. In addition to complete home builds, they also make repairs on existing homes that are essential for health and safety. An application process is required for those interested in becoming a Habitat homeowner or needing a critical repair. HFHGP is always seeking volunteers, financial support, and furniture/building material donations to the ReStore. More information and volunteer sign-up can be found at www.hfhplymouth.org, and readers are encouraged to follow HFHGP and HFHGP ReStore on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Questions can be directed to info@hfhplymouth.org or 508-866-4188.
