By Jill Nagy<\/p>\n
More than 40 people attended a kick-off luncheon to announce a Habitat for Humanity project in Granville and gauge interest in the home-building project.<\/p>\n
Telescope Casual Furniture, a manufacturer in Granville, emerged as the lead sponsor. The project received \u201ca very warm reception,\u201d according to Adam Feldman, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties.<\/p>\n
Habitat for Humanity builds subsidized housing using a combination of volunteers, donations, and the \u201csweat equity\u201d of the family who will own the home when it is completed. At its peak, a project may have 100 or more volunteer builders on site, including a contingent of people who coordinate the work and bring in a crew of 50 volunteers to join an equal number of local volunteers.<\/p>\n
Families will be able to apply to own the home beginning in December. Feldman said they hope to have a family selected by April.<\/p>\n
Requirements are stringent. The family must be in need of housing, either because they live in sub-standard housing, can\u2019t afford their present housing, or are homeless. They are required to commit to contributing 500 hours of \u201csweat equity.\u201d Of that total, the family must commit to providing 100 hours themselves and bringing in others\u2014friends, church members, co-workers, etc.\u2014to provide the rest.<\/p>\n
The contributions may be construction work or, for people not able to wield a hammer, anything from doing paperwork to making sandwiches for the workers. The family income must be between 40 and 80 percent of the median income for the community. In Granville that would be between $28,600 and $57,100 annually for a family of four. Lastly, they must be able to carry a 30-year subsidized mortgage to cover two-thirds of the cost, about $75,000.<\/p>\n
A community outreach meeting is scheduled for Nov. 8 at Slatetown Brewing Co. Feldman termed it a chance to get to know members of the community and for them to become more familiar with Habitat for Humanity.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf people happen to bring a checkbook and want to write us a check, more power to them. But that is not the purpose of the meeting,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs soon as the snow melts, we will have a groundbreaking\u201d and volunteers will pour the foundation,\u201d he said. In mid- or late May, there will be a three-day \u201cblitz.\u201d If all goes well, the chosen family will be in their home toward the end of 2019.<\/p>\n
The probable cost will be close to $125,000, of which $50,000 will be donated in cash or in-kind by the community, Feldman said. The balance will be covered by the family\u2019s mortgage. Landscaping is designed to \u201cmatch the culture of the community,\u201d he said, and those materials are almost always donated.<\/p>\n
The organization is also building a home in Lake George that is framed and roofed and about four months from completion. The organization is seeking applicants for that home. They plan to build in Whitehall in 2020.<\/p>\n
Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties was organized in 1991 It has six paid employees, four of whom work at the Habitat Restore, a used furniture and furnishings store near Northway Exit 17.<\/p>\n
For further information or to volunteer, call 518 793-7484.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Jill Nagy More than 40 people attended a kick-off luncheon to announce a Habitat for Humanity project in Granville and gauge interest in the home-building project. Telescope Casual Furniture, a manufacturer in Granville, emerged as the lead sponsor. The project received \u201ca very warm reception,\u201d according to Adam Feldman, executive director of Habitat for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":89,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31271","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business-news"],"yoast_head":"\r\n