Fairborn family to move into new home FAIRBORN — Soon-to-be homeowner and mother of three Stacey Evans, a Fairborn resident for 10 years, could not help but show some intense emotion Friday as volunteers lifted, moved and lowered her new home into place Friday morning at 330 Forest St.
Evans’ three-bedroom, two-bathroom house will not be ready until after the new year, early February, she said, as workers add the necessary finishing touches.
“I’m wrapped up with so many emotions right now,” Evans said. “It’s my first home. I’m excited … When I saw it coming down the street, I was welling with tears.”
Assembled in Xenia at the Greene County Career Center, the Unibilt house arrived in Fairborn Friday after an approximate year-and-a-half process involving 300 hours of “sweat equity” on Evans’ part helping to build two other Habitat homes, said partner Scott Sizemore.
“A lot of good people come out here and volunteer their time … It’s a good program … It’s a sense of accomplishment,” Sizemore said. “They come in these neighborhoods and they put a new home in and a lot of these neighborhoods ain’t the best neighborhoods … and people in the neighborhoods see that somebody cares …”
He said Evans is a caregiver for Hospice of Dayton.
“All day at work she’s helping other people. And here is her chance — somebody’s giving back to her. And I know that’s like a huge thing for her … She’s been through a lot. Her life ain’t been easy … When people give to you, it makes you want to give back.”
With the self-confidence boost and sense of stability that comes with owning a home in troublesome times, she can pursue other dreams, Sizemore said.
“It’s been a long process, just seeing the other two homes go up and now it’s my turn,” she said.
The first-time homeowner said her three children are thrilled about choosing and decorating their rooms.
Habitat for Humanity of Greene County Vice President and Building Committee Chairman Dennis Westafer said the local organization completes two or three houses per year.
“(Prospective owners) can’t make too much or too little, Westafer said. “If they make too little, we don’t set ‘em up to fail …”
Everyone present at the site Friday agreed that the addition of a Habitat house has a positive ripple effect within neighborhoods.
“Every house we’ve ever built, while we’re building the house, we see the neighbors do landscaping and do little fix-ups around their own properties,” the Greene County Habitat VP said.
“When we have the house dedications and the family, turn over the keys to them, most of us — we get goose bumps, a few tears here and there,” said Westafer, who also said he has been involved in nine or 10 projects thus far.
Habitat houses, built at-cost for approximately $75,000, double in value the first time they are resold because of the savings on labor costs afforded by all-volunteer builders. People generally do not sell the home unless they need to move for a good reason, he said.
Hoisting and gently placing the house sections Friday were Schumacher Crane Rental Inc. of Dayton and Unibilt Industries Incorporated Modular Homes of Vandalia.
Jim Hulse of Xenia did his part on-site Friday as the next prospective homeowner in line for a Greene County Habitat house — slated to start in the spring.
Hulse said the experience is hard work, but very rewarding.
The hardest part, he said, probably is moving concrete because of the heavy lifting required.
Tasks are available for all people who want to get involved, Hulse said.
Painting, siding, etc. “doesn’t take super intelligence or a strong back,” he said.
For more information, contact 937-374-8726 or visit http://www.greenecountyhabitat.org.
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