Habitat putting final touches on Norwich home

NORWICH – Progress is being made in Norwich as Habitat for Humanity volunteers begin the last phases of construction on their third house project.

The siding is yet to be finished and the inside has more than a few months of work left, but the outcome is irreplaceable for James and Kisha Mutabiilwa.

The house, currently under construction on Adams Street in the City of Norwich, has been a step in the right direction for community participation and involvement. The wiring was completed by volunteer George Estey and plumbing services are going to be provided free of charge by Eric Bagdy.

The local DCMO BOCES building trades class was recruited by Habitat Site Manager Richard Sheldon to help with the siding.

“The kids from BOCES helped a great deal, but then school let out and we were back to square one,” Sheldon said.

The house, when completed, will be a two-story, three-bedroom structure with one-and-a-half bathrooms. Habitat for Humanity will furnish the refrigerator, the range, and some of the bathroom appliances.

The volunteer organization not only builds a house and gives it to a needy family, they lay the foundation for the future of the families as well.

Habitat for Humanity builds the house, but the structure is not just given away. Each homeowner chosen by Habitat’s selection panel is responsible for a down payment and mortgage payments. Habitat program acts as a lender, not a charity fund. The mortgage is held, the payments are interest-free and the homeowner has to commit themselves to putting in hours of “sweat equity” in building the home.