CLEARLAKE – New homes, new neighbors, a fresh start. That is what two Clearlake families got Saturday when the keys were officially handed over at a Habitat for Humanity ribbon cutting and open house celebration.
Lake County Habitat for Humanity executive director Lisa Willardson called the event a “milestone” for the agency. The homes were the ninth and 10th Habitat homes completed in Lake County since the first home broke ground in 2001, and the first time two homes were dedicated simultaneously, according to Willardson.
“This is an awesome opportunity for people like me, who can”t afford a house on their own. We”re so blessed,” new homeowner Trenia Conaster said, standing in her new, as yet empty garage. It wasn”t long until her possessions arrived in a rented truck, having been in storage for a year.
“They”re finally going to be together as a family,” Conaster”s mother Virginia Silba said. She was on hand to help with the moving process, which commenced near the end of the celebration and open house. Conaster said she and her two children had lived apart from each other for several years prior because of tight finances and living quarters.
“I don”t know yet how to feel,” Aleisha Plata said. Plata and her three children occupy Habitat”s 10th home at 15798 37th Avenue, sitting next door to Conaster”s home at 15803 37th Avenue.
Both homes are equipped with green technology, including solar panels and heat radiant floors. Willardson said hot water running through tubing under the floor conveys heat through concrete slab flooring, Willardson said.
“These homes are equipped with solar panels because of a generous grant from PG&E (Pacific Gas & Electric). It”s really exciting to me because it”s going to reduce the electric bills and all the expensive parts of being a homeowner,” Willardson said.
In addition, the two families each spent time inside stocking cabinets and pantry shelves with groceries donated by Grocery Outlet.
Habitat for Humanity is a Christian-based, non-profit organization that aims to put low-income families in homes. Families spend 500 hours of “sweat equity” building Habitat homes for a two-parent home, or 300 for a one-parent home, according to Willardson.
“Before you start to build your home, you need to help build someone else”s home. It shows that you are dedicated, and it”s for the good of everyone,” Willardson said.
The two families applied in May 2006, started work in August 2006 and broke ground on the two 37th Avenue homes in April 2007, Willardson said.
Families who are selected for the program also pay a down payment and monthly no-interest mortgages, which are recycled to build more houses, according to Willardson.
“This year we plan on doing four homes,” Willardson said. One family was selected and two are pending. Willardson said the organization is looking for another family for the fourth home.
“After that, our goal to get more people lined up for 2009,” Willardson said. For more information, contact Habitat for Humanity at 994-1100.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com. See related video report on the home page at Video of the Week. To comment on this story or others, please visit www.record-bee.com.
