Date: Fri 24-Sep-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: JAN

Quick Words:

habitat-Jeffreys

Full Text:

Habitat For Humanity Dedicates A New Home

(with photos)

BY JAN HOWARD

Housatonic Habitat for Humanity (HHH) celebrated the completion of its first

home in Newtown with a dedication service September 19 on Philo Curtis Road in

Sandy Hook.

Community leaders and HHH volunteers and supporters took part in the

dedication of the new house now owned by Sarah and Jim Jeffrey.

"This is a special day for a lot of people," Community Relations Director

Roger Authers said in greeting the more than 100 people who attended the

dedication.

HHH President Christie Davey said, "People have become good friends as a

result of this."

She said the project presented a challenge for the organization and its

volunteers since it has been several years since it received the town-donated

land.

"It took hundreds of people to build this house," she said, from those who

raised the walls, wielded the paint brushes, raised the money and found the

land, to those who donated materials. "Thanks to all who had a hand in this."

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal and clergy from several of the area churches

who support Habitat's work were on hand for the ceremony. The Rev Kathleen

Adams-Shephard of Trinity Episcopal Church in Newtown caused the attendees to

laugh when she asked the Jeffrey family to keep a lookout for a shoe she lost

in the mud on one of the construction days.

The Jeffreys were presented with a Bible and a full tool box during the

dedication. "Friends of mine who own their own homes have told me that as soon

as they're finished, they start falling apart," Mr Jeffrey said. "So the

skills I've picked up over the last year will be good to have."

It has taken about a year to build the house following several delays the

project has experienced over several years. A second house is being

constructed on the site and should be ready by spring.

The Jeffreys thanked all those who helped their dream of home ownership become

reality.

"This house is more than we could ever hope for," Mrs Jeffrey said, adding

that it was amazing that "so many people who started out as strangers have

grown to be our friends."

"This is a dream come true. Truly, this is a miracle," Mr Jeffrey said.

Donations for the project and the other house under construction were received

from area churches, corporations, and individuals.

St Stephen's Church in Ridgefield, the covenant Church that sponsored this

project, contributed $50,000 toward the costs, organized regular work parties,

and provided a number of board and committee members.

The three bedroom, 1,200-square-foot house has been sold to the Jeffreys

through a no-interest mortgage offered by the non-profit group. The Jeffreys

were required to make a one percent down payment and contribute 400 hours of

"sweat equity" to the project.

September 19 was the International Day of Prayer for Human Habitat, when many

churches and synagogues create or renew covenants with Habitat affiliates and

pray for those without adequate shelter.

Housatonic Habitat plans to complete four homes in the year 2000.

HHH is an independent, non-profit affiliate of the international Christian

housing ministry Habitat for Humanity based in Americus, Ga.