Habitat for Humanity Homes Falling Apart

I agree Billwald, I think there is another side to this story. Around these parts, they would have had to get soil samples, gas readings etc... I can see them building 5 ft over a dump.

 

Oh yea. There is never any thing corrupt or incompetence going on in our government offices.

 

I'm from extreme Southeast Texas along the Gulf Coast (near Beaumont, east northeast of Houston) and the roaches you're describing are small to medium. I've seen some enormous ones over the years including one a bit over four inches long (not counting antennae) that lived in a warehouse I worked in during my college years. He was kind of a mascot to some of the guys there (they named him "Herbie"), but he creeped me out because he was so large you could hear him walking by with a nasty dry scraping sound on the concrete floor. One day I was moving a huge box of furniture on a lift and he ran across the top of the box, jumped/flew to my shoulder and ran across my shoulder toward the back of my neck/hair. Over the years I've had a few roaches drop down my collar and it's not a fun experience having one run around on your bare skin under your shirt. Anyway, flipped around wildly, trying to get it off me and ended up dropping the box off the lift, damaging the furniture. I had to file a report for the bonding company and make a notation in the log explaining the incident...

But the next day, I saw Herbie running my direction while I was pulling a pallet with a hydraulic lift. He ran up under one of the elevated skids and I quickly released the hydraulics and dropped the load on him. He made a sickening crunch, but I felt really good about it. :sleeping_2:

 

We build on wasteland all the time.

Ever heard of Washington DC?

 

'round here, we call 'em "crunchers," based on the sound they make when stepped on.

 

A lady I worked with and her three kids moved into one of those homes of which I spoke. Black families moved in on either side of her. While all their kids playing in the yard do not help the landscape, they are all good neighbors and are very proud of their homes.

Here in Florida it is hard to avoid roaches all the time, but they are usually an outdoor pest if one keeps the food reasonably picked up. Certain vegetation... palms and palmettoes, seem to really attract them. A little boric acid goes a long way and is fairly safe around children, pets and food and is easily sprinkled into areas behind can goods in the pantry, wall seals, between appliances. It is toxic but low in toxicity. I'm not as certain that it actually kills or acts more as a deterant and repellant: My home is 27 years young, and the only pests..... that is roaches and ants, have been few over the years: the roaches, I believe, more like brought in on bagged potatoes ....easily irradicated if treated immediately upon spotting the first by perimeter treatment and cleaning.

Any accumulation of refuse and food can attract rats and mice. Here, I've never had a problem except a field mouse might wander in through an open door.... rarely. Bait and traps works for me. When I had chickens, I read that chickens will kill and eat mice, so rather than store my feed in a separate area, I stored it in closed containers in the midst of their roosting pen. Never saw a mouse..... nor one in or near the house while free ranging them.... but my experience with them was short lived so I really don't know if it is true about chickens and mice.

Yes, some mentioned about 'sweat equity' which the homeowner is required to put in: HFH will often take it in a variety of forms of approved or recognized volunteer work: A person who has handicaps or who already has time demands of work and child care, may get friends or family or just acquaintances and stranger volunteers who are willing to put in the time. I don't know about the free transfer of title without strings attached regarding the ownership or equity available for a loan, but I think that there may be some restrictions.

Good post! Sad that a charity which helps so many is coming under litigation: It does sound like someone dropped the ball.... but I suspect it was less likely HFH and more to do with the condition of the land and the communication of that between donor and recipient (HFH) and the permit department governing that area.

 

Most likely a city and money connection.

 

Whaddya' mean, "do not help the landscape"? 6 to 8 kids playing in the yard will enable one to only have to mow about a third as frequently, and will likely completely eliminate the need for anything more than an annual landscaping project (one will definitely not have to trim shrubs, often) - you know, to dig up and replace the shrubs that somehow have mysteriously died over the last year.

Ed

 

Sorry, ...................I should not have said anything about that.... It just is a few days after working on the project, I dropped by to visit... and all the kids..... all three families had young children.... I guess beneath the ages of 12... and the grass mats which had been laid and which they were trying to water in and get to take hold, were being torn here and there by their playing ball and tricycle riding etc... The back yard was seeded, so, in a way, its understandable that with bare earth and tracking in on carpet and linoleum, their moms would have a hissy fit.... so it seemed the front yards became their playground.

I should go see if Brenda still lives there and see how the community fares. It is good to see hard working and tax paying people who have had their struggles to get a head but who have not given up on making an effort of their own, get help from other volunteers and get to live in a community with mixed economics, but generallly settled with families with similar values and aspirations.

It is sad to visit someone who is having to depend on adjusted rents, living in 'the projects' where the values of community and family seem to have deteriorated over time and where gangs spring up. I remember visiting a friends disabled relative in one such project years ago in NC, and felt sadness over the conditions of the neighborhood, realizing this couple had little choice or options available; and even their friends and relatives were reluctant to visit them particularly at certain hours of the evenings or on Fridays and Saturdays, when it seemed, some of the riff-raff which might be acquainted with and preyed upon some who lived there, would use the projects like their park for partying and doping.

Maybe we have the same here in Florida..... but a disabled friend of mine who lives in such adjusted rate apartments, has told me, many a time, of regular inspections which take place inside and out. The economics are mixed and not all have adjusted rents. (This does make me wonder..... if the inspections are just in the apartments which have rent subsidized.... or are others held to the same standards.... which I doubt.) She has a group of friends who help her with sewing projects for the veterans and nursing homes.... but at such times of inspections, must move all the stuff of her projects and storage out from under the bed and the floors of the closets or the top foot of closet space, to another person's vehicle or home, so that her apartment passes the inspection. (Her projects start after Christmas.... sewing stockings and lap blankets...... and by the next season she and her neighbors and friends have complete thousands which start getting distributed around Thanksgiving til Christmas.)

 

While I did make this a "funny", I think that kids are far more important than any manicured yard could ever possibly be, but maybe that's just me.

And the work of the friend and her friends making things for others, likewise as to some detailed inspections, when one can note what is really going on without any magnifying glass, as well.

Ed

 

Yeah, its all good! They are all really nice people! If I had close neighbors, I'd be proud to have all four of these households around mine!.... LOL.... :smilewinkgrin:

Really, if every yard had some kids, there might be more laughter and joy in this ole world!:love2:

 

I need to correct a common misconception about Habitat houses. They are not free. The prospective homeowners have to go through an extensive application process. Once they are approved, they have to make a down payment of 350 hours of "sweat equity" (this may vary with the affiliate). This requirement can be fulfilled by working on houses, taking mandatory classes on home maintenance, budgeting, upkeep, etc. Once their house is built, they sign a mortgage that they have to repay. The only way it could be called "discounted" is because it is a no interest mortgage. That has been Habitat's practice since its founding. The mortgage contains language stating that Habitat can foreclose on the house for non-payment, failure to maintain the property, criminal activity, etc.

I have been a volunteer supervisor for our Habitat affiliate here in Nashville for over 15 years. We do not allow shoddy work to pass just because the volunteers are not skilled builders. We show them how to do the work properly. The concrete slab, foundation, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, drywall, and roofing, are all done by professional subcontractors, and inspections have to be passed. Our houses are not perfect. Several years ago I helped repair a house whose concrete slab floor had caved in after it had been lived in for several years.

I don't know what the problems are with the houses talked about in the article, but it sounds like multiple parties could be involved. As for our work here in Nashville, it is very gratifying to drive through neighborhoods where I have worked to see houses with clean, neat yards, and to see homeowners I have worked for recognize me and wave. I'm waiting for this year's schedule to come out, so I can plan my work days.

Tim Reynolds

 

Tim, I was just writing something the same as you did so well about Habitat for Humanity houses in Canada. I have designed a few of them when I was able. The people also work on that house. Many professionals have donated their services as well.

Not is there only an affordable mortgage, there is financial counselliing to go along with it.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Good to know Tim, so all they get is a no interest loan. If the workers volunteer their labor, shouldn't the incoming family only have to pay for materials?

 

More on the story

http://wizbangblog.com/content/2009/01/04/uninhabitable.php

Being from Jax originally I am familiar with the area. Probably the truth of the matter lies in the middle as it does many times- a lot of people at fault here including the homeowners.

 

In some of those cities you would be amazed at how many rich folks get richer by dumping on the poor people.

Sounds to me like a garbage dump would not be the best place to build especially if it had organic material in the ground. Who got paid off for the land?

The next buyout program?

 

As I said earlier, not all of the labor is donated. There are also land acquisition, land development, and other costs to account for. Situations vary from one affiliate to another. Nashville has had some land donated to them, and they have had to pay for other land.

The point is that Habitat is not just building houses. They are building communities. The neighbors have worked on each other's houses. They've already gotten to know their neighbors very well. These relationships develop in spite of differences in race, nationality, religion, culture, and any other issue than can separate people. That is one reason I enjoy the work so much. Another is watching unskilled volunteers learn how to do something they couldn't do: hanging a door, installing cabinets, running siding, caulking, etc.

Tim Reynolds

 

>We build on wasteland all the time.

>Ever heard of Washington DC?

It was never intended that upper class white people should live in DC, only slaves and servant class people. The important people were only supposed to live there while congress was in session.

 

Roz,

It is not very often I comment on boards but after reading this one I had no choice. HFH, offers individuals that in many instances would not get the opportunity to become a homeowner. After what they are required by law to follow guidelines to assist individuals them it is up to the homeowner to manage and maintain their homes. Has someone that is making a significant purchase had to do their own due diligences. If you were buying a new car a smart purchaser would research that company before buying, how many time the make was on recall, the time limit you had to turn that car before it would harm credit ratings, and the like. You have to be willing to ask the hard questions even if it meant that you had to walk away from the deal. It kinds of sounds like no due diligence was completed. This may have accord for you weighing the need for a home at the time, for whatever reason you are not blameless in this matter. I do not believe that HFH owes you special treatment for your failure not to research. It if had to believe that you were not informed of all this purchase entailed. Before IF I would deny taking this home back as you now wish because you now can afford better they would have discussed this with their legal department to ensure this purchase was above board no matter how you would like to spin it now.

I would advise to retain an attorney to go over the terms of your mortgage agreement. I imagine the attorney you retain is going to advise since were negligent in following practical guidelines in purchasing a home. You also have publicly stayed now you wish to purchase a new home with the new financials you have is not grounds for a breach of contract. In addition, as a homeowner since you signed that contract you are required to keep up your own home.

No, I am not an attorney but I am familiar with the legal field. It sounds like you are responsible for the current situation you are in. Especially since you had to serve your community hours to build your home, even a layman can tell will things are not right at the start. You now have two choices, 1. Make the home like you wanted it. You might trying seeing since your finances improved to add on to your home, increase the square footage. Or 2. Walk away, and deal with fixing the credit issues it will bring.