From house to home
Richard Parsons, president of the board of directors, Habitat for Humanity, York County, new homeowner Janalee Moquin, and her son Orion, 13, take a break from working on the Habitat for Humanity Home to talk about the project. Moquin and her son will be moving in upon completion. Deb Cram
The Habitat for Humanity house under construction on Hemlock Avenue is looking more like a home.
New owner Janalee Moquin and her son Orion, 13, of York, toured the interior of the simple ranch house on Friday, as an estimated dozen volunteers took a lunch break. Stud walls showed the outline of what will be an open-concept kitchen and living room, three bedrooms, a bath, and stairway to an unfinished basement with cement floor.
“It still seems like a dream,” said Moquin, who currently rents her home atop Mount Agamenticus.
The Habitat house has given her the opportunity to become a property owner in York, a town admittedly in need of affordable housing.
She and Orion plan to move in by the end of the year.
Professional contractors, working at a discounted rate, and volunteers, including Moquin and her son, work on the house every Friday and Saturday.
The house is a $100,000 project, according to Richard Parsons, president of the board of directors, York County Habitat for Humanity.
Moquin will assume taxes on the property and the estimated $100,000 mortgage, the latter payable to Habitat at no interest. The mortgage helps pay for the next project, Parsons said. Her mortgage price, including taxes, will be slightly more than what she is currently paying for rent, she said.
“We’ll feel like we’re in more of a community,” said Moquin, who has already brought cookies to her new neighbors.
Habitat looked at 16 applicants and made its evaluation based on the applicant’s financial need, whether he or she lived in York, worked in town, and had a record of volunteering. Moquin, who cleans the Town Hall and beach rest rooms, fit on all counts, said Parsons. She was notified on June 24.
Since July 27, when the foundation was poured, Moquin has been at work on the house. She is required to put in 400 hours of sweat equity.
“I have no technical knowledge hammering nails,” she said.
There’s still plenty to be done on the project that wouldn’t get completed without volunteer help or donations.
Parsons gives much credit to fundraiser and volunteer, resident Walter Woods. Woods, of Graystone Builders of Maine, is doing the site work at a reduced rate. Over the Labor Day weekend, he held a bonfire benefit for the project that raised $4,345.
Other volunteers include York police, who built a retaining wall and steps out back, and selectmen Chairman Mike Estes, who is installing the heating system.
“I think it’s a great thing to do,” said volunteer Jean Quinn.
Read the full story: From house to home | SeacoastOnline.com. By Susan Morse