Seneca Co. Habitat announces next project

Habitat for Humanity of Seneca County is pleased to announce its latest project. A four-bedroom home at 15 Mill Street, Waterloo, will be a complete “gut,” said Sandra Ferrara, local Habitat president. All new plumbing, electric and mechanicals will be installed. The project will be the 10th Habitat home in Seneca County. The anticipated start date is May 1. The family will be announced April 17. They have been qualified for home ownership by Seneca Housing, Inc. Lou Ferrara, who led last summer’s successful Habitat Women Build project, will again serve as the Construction Chair. The property is under purchase contract from Seneca Falls Savings Bank, said Menzo Case, bank CEO and member of the Habitat family selection committee. The Bank has replaced the roof, installed new siding and gutters and emptied the house of all garbage. He said Habitat is filing for an Affordable Housing Grant to partially offset the renovation costs. The new homeowners are required to put in “sweat equity,” working alongside Habitat volunteers to complete the project. The home will be sold with a standard mortgage. Homeowners must be qualified and participate in classes in home ownership and financial planning.Men and women are needed to volunteer. “Everyone can be part of the Habitat mission to eliminate substandard housing, even if you don’t know how to build. In addition to construction work, volunteers are needed for a wide variety of activities including supporting construction, working with families, raising money and carrying out other activities of the affiliate,” Ferrara said. To sign up, contact Patrice Giansante 315-568-6238 [email protected] Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with people in need to build homes or renovate existing homes to create decent, affordable housing. The houses then are sold to those in need at no profit and with no interest charged. Mortgage payments received by the affiliate are used to build more homes.Habitat for Humanity of Seneca County, NY, is a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built, rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 400,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 2 million people.