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Local Habitat for Humanity celebrates completion of build
To say the completion of Habitat for Humanity’s newest build in Putnam County has been a long time coming verges on being an understatement.
Established in 1988, Putnam County’s chapter built 18 homes in Greencastle, Bainbridge and Roachdale between then and 2013. However, it became inactive three years later after not completing a new build. Being honest about it, the chapter just did not do anything in the meantime.
In January 2019, Chase Hubbard, Olivia Hoagland and their two children Henry and Charlotte were announced as the partner family for a new Habitat home to be built on Albin Pond Road.
Coming out of retirement after years of serving the community in various capacities, David L. English was asked later in the year to become the chapter’s executive director on a part-time basis. Meanwhile, financial and volunteer support had been and was being sought for the project.
English set out to ensure the chapter’s viability and visibility as an organization which provides safe, affordable housing. As he has related, it provides a hand up, not a handout. Recipients must make a down payment and a mortgage is expected. However, Habitat holds the mortgage as part of its operating budget, and also provides guidance on budgeting and life skills to families.
“What I am asking of people who want to volunteer is, ‘What can you do?’” he said in October 2019. “I am asking what the assets of this community are. It’s about having a common goal.”
One of those who has been involved from the beginning is Bonnie Lowry, Hoagland’s grandmother. When Hoagland and her family were announced as the recipients, she was asked by Habitat Board President Scott Dunbar to be the project’s volunteer coordinator, after having worked under his wife and clerk-treasurer Lynda at Greencastle City Hall.
Perhaps like many in the community at this time, she did not know “the first thing” about Habitat or why and how it can build homes for those in need. But even as she remembered Dunbar telling her, “We’re all gonna learn together.” Even so, she had already been thinking about what it would take to clear the site.
Seeing it as a new start for the family as well as Habitat, the ground was broken in November 2019. The financial build goal was not met by this time, but there was faith that local businesses and organizations were going to come through. It was expected that the home would be complete by the following August.
Then COVID-19 hit in March 2020. The project came to a crawl. Everything seemed to have gone awry.
“With the pandemic, the cost of building supplies became astronomical,” Lowry provided during a recent open house at the new home. However, this turned out to be a “godsend,” as Habitat’s board weighed the costs and determined that stick-built was not the way to go. In the end, the home would be built as an insulated concrete form (ICF) one.
Perhaps more consequential, though, was that volunteers and donations became idle. Shutting down construction entirely was considered as other Habitat projects were elsewhere. The chapter not being in totally good standing with Habitat’s national organization was in its favor, though, as it could use volunteers and not only skilled labor.
While English and company worked to secure the skilled labor, Lowry kept on with volunteering.
She related that while initially there were many who showed interest, their availability was never guaranteed. As the pool dwindled, the project became a family affair. Aside from the skilled labor and assured donations from local organizations, she eventually had those she could count on, including Hubbard’s father Lonnie, who has been instrumental with the onsite leadership.
Dealing with all of the challenges with materials and manpower, Lowry said there was speculation (maybe putting it mildly) in the community about whether the home would ever be completed. Through no fault on anyone’s part in the project, there was talk, but little action. There was frustration.
But there was a point where things had to pick up. By the middle of August 2020, the concrete foundation had been poured and the ICF walls were being secured. After Habitat had its first annual dinner in April 2021, work was slow but steady. At that time, the completion was expected by the time school began.
“It was very stressful,” Lowry said. “I don’t want to be negative, but there were a lot of – we felt – vacant promises. It was so many things. I don’t know what the impetus was to actually get it done. Things began to happen, but I don’t know what caused that.”
Lowry said the bulk of the work has been done in the last six months. With it still being that family affair, the donations and general support from community were realized. This is even as some who were on Habitat’s board in 2019 left and the project went through different construction managers.
“It has been a learning experience,” Lowry said, noting how Habitat had been inactive for years prior to the build. “We did not have a lot of firsthand knowledge, how to proceed next.”
English highlighted the expertise of Keith Goad as a construction manager, providing that the home as an ICF one would not have been possible without his leadership. To him, Goad is the reason money was saved on the build, and how the family will save on homeowners insurance and utilities.
Hubbard and Hoagland were required to put in “sweat equity,” meaning they had to devote at least 500 man-hours to the project. They have far exceeded this, with their families’ efforts also counting toward it. Indeed, more landscaping work is still to be done by the chapter. But the home is there.
“To sum it up, I’m thrilled that we’re here. There were times I didn’t think it was ever going to happen,” Lowry said. “But it did, and it’s a great house. And this family will be so happy here.”
Apart from remaining final grading and backfill, the home’s long-anticipated completion was finally announced at Habitat’s second-annual dinner a few weeks ago.
It was an opportunity to recognize the local businesses, organizations and groups that ultimately donated around $110,000 toward the project, including reduced costs for materials and skilled labor.
The largest donations have come from Black Lumber Company, 100+ Men Who Care of Putnam County, Baker’s Septic Services, the Jack and Shirley Dalton Trust Fund and Habitat’s own board members. Meanwhile, Trimax Building Services, Fauber Electric & HVAC, O’Brien Mechanical, Beasley Guttering and Terry White Construction donated labor toward the project.
The occasion held meaning, as it was the same day as when Hubbard and Hoagland first worked on the property three years ago. In the meantime, they have had another daughter named Lucy. With support from their families and Habitat’s commitment, now they can have security for their future.
“It couldn’t have been without everyone in this room,” Hoagland said as she held up a temporary certificate of residency for the new home, as they were to sign the mortgage later. “We really are grateful.”
“It really means a lot for me and my family,” Hubbard added. “It’s going to make a huge difference in our lives and our children. It’s not something we take for granted, so we’re very much thankful.”