Housatonic Habitat for Humanity —

A New Home Brings New Hope For One Family

By Jeff White

She finally has a view.

After four years spent in a small cottage behind Mt Pleasant Hospital for Animals, Susan Mallabar can now look through the kitchen window of her new home on Philo Curtis Road and take in the verdant expanse of the bushes and trees that frame her own backyard. At a dedication service Sunday afternoon, members of Housatonic Habitat for Humanity – who built Ms Mallabar’s house – joined local leaders and other well wishers in simultaneously welcoming her and marking the end of a long project.

Standing on her new front porch, Ms Mallabar thanked those present for their benedictions. “I’m truly blest,” she said. “I’m truly blest that each day I can watch the sun set through my kitchen window.”

The ceremony was marked with a musical accompaniment by singers from Trinity Episcopal Church, scripture readings from Rev Jack Tanner of Newtown Christian Church, and speeches from Fifth District Congressional Representative Jim Maloney, First Selectman Herb Rosenthal, and Habitat President Christine Davey.

Amid the music and prayers, Ms Mallabar’s eight-year-old son, Chris Segovia, played in his new yard. “I like it a lot,” he said. “I wanted to get out of that apartment because I couldn’t play in the yard.”

Long after the last person toured her home, Monday afternoon gave Ms Mallabar and her son some reprieve from playing hosts. They sat on their couch and breathed in the new smell of their home. The windows of their family room only let in a silence in stark contrast to the automotive din of Mt Pleasant Road. Their home, nestled down a long gravel driveway, is far enough from Philo Curtis Road that the occasional passing cars emit only a faint drone.

Ms Mallabar, who has worked as an office manager at Mt Pleasant Hospital for Animals for the past four years, explained that it took close to a year and one half, or 3,000 man-hours, to complete the house. She applied to the Housatonic Habitat for Humanity in early 1998, and upon her acceptance put in nearly 400 of her own hours working on another Habitat house, which was finished last year and sits next door.

Although she and Chris have been in their new home for the last two weeks, they are still awaiting furniture. Boxes full of their worldly possessions are still stacked in their full-size basement. “I’m looking forward to that time when I can relax and enjoy [the house] instead of working on it,” she mused.

Still, the three bedrooms in the house are complete with beds and bureau, with one of the bedrooms already converted into a cozy den. There is plenty of space in the bedrooms and sunny kitchen for the three cats, one dog, and single tree frog that live with Ms Mallabar and Chris –rejects, she says, from her place of work.

Ms Mallabar is looking forward to a lot of things with her new house. After spending the last four years sleeping on a couch, so that Chris could have his own room, the space of her own bedroom will give her a place to retreat in privacy. She says she’s also looking forward to getting into a yard work routine; with nearly an acre of her own to maintain, mowing the lawn will need to be a weekly ritual, she admits.

With the completion of Ms Mallabar’s house, Housatonic Habitat for Humanity’s work in Newtown is complete, for the time being. During last Sunday’s home dedication, First Selectman Herb Rosenthal lamented the decision of the Legislative Council to “table” the issue of a Habitat for Humanity house at 31 Queen Street, part of the Queen Street properties that the town owns.

Mr Rosenthal spoke in favor of further Habitat for Humanity projects in town. “It provides housing diversity in the town,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of housing diversity opportunities.”

During public comments, Mr Rosenthal promised the people present that he would see to it that Ms Mallabar’s home was not last the Habitat house in town. “Don’t give up on me,” he implored.

And there are now two families in Newtown that can speak in Habitat’s favor. The feeling inside Ms Mallabar’s new home this week that almost tangible atmosphere of relief, happiness, and hope. There was relief that the project was completed, happiness brought on by homeownership, and hope for a new, more secure life.

The words of an eight year old remain framed on a coffee table as a reminder this. Bordered by small red hearts, Chris wrote a letter a while back in anticipation of moving into his new house. “I can’t wait until my house is done, because it is big and has a lot of room to play.”