A new Habitat for Humanity house for a family of three in Cape Coral was renovated in three days by 25 contractors and more than 100 people.
The Cape Coral Construction Industry Association, an organization that promotes and protects construction-related businesses and residents in the Cape, donated nearly $10,000 in materials and more than $30,000 in labor for the renovation of the home on Northeast Seventh Avenue.
The home was completely gutted down to the drywall.
“This project has resulted in more positive changes than were ever anticipated,” said CCCIA Executive Director Patti L. Schnell. “A very deserving family is going to experience the dream of home ownership, competitive contractors worked side by side, a blighted house has now restored a great neighborhood, an industry often misrepresented is seen more clearly and everyone feels fantastic, even in these troubled times.”
Schnell said construction companies that compete for the same jobs worked on the roof, in the attic and in the home throughout the project, which began Monday.
“No call to the industry was left unanswered,” she said.
CCCIA Chairman Keith Moyer is the vice president of building operations for Wright Construction.
“This project is important to our organization because it aligns perfectly with the values of the CCCIA and its members, and it is a project everyone can take pride in,” he said in a prepared statement.
“Our partnership with Habitat for Humanity on this project reinforces our commitment to address the growing need for secure and healthy housing in our community,” Moyer said. “We are very proud of the level of support our members are providing for this renovation. The response we have received is a clear indication that giving comes from the heart and it is a reminder that even in a struggling economy, it still takes place.”
Trisha Goins, vice president of communications for Habitat for Humanity, said they were very excited to work with the CCCIA.
“We were so excited to hear of a group that was willing to put in the time and material for this project,” she said. “Volunteers are the backbone of what we do at Habitat, without them we are without a mission.
“For us that was a huge donation and a huge volunteer act because it typically takes Habitat a month to two months on work that needs to be done with a foreclosure, and this group said it will be done in three days,” Goins said.
She said the other neat aspect of the Habitat home is many of the builders that took participated are without work or trying to stay afloat with the work they have.
“It was really interesting to hear of their stories and again it gave us more excitement because they have suffered with the economic times and they still gave their time,” Goins said.
She said Habitat for Humanity is currently stepping away from building new homes to pursue the option of buying homes that are in foreclosure and doing a renovation of the home.
The Habitat homeowners are Rachel Moore, a clerk for CL Support Services, and Ty Hurdle, who works for Little Caesars. They have a 4-year-old daughter, Lauren.
Goins said Habitat found a house for the family on a Tuesday, right after they finished their 250 sweat equity hours and 14 weeks of home ownership classes.
Three days later the family was notified that there would be a house ready for them the following week.
“The family was speechless,” she said.
“We are really excited for the house,” Moore said, adding that her daughter has been asking to go over to it every day and move in.
She explained that the construction began Monday, which was exciting for them because they did not know that they were beginning the renovation.
“When we first got there, we were in shock. There were so many people working on the house,” Moore said. “That is when we felt like we had an extreme makeover.”
Goins said the family was determined to have a home of their own after they received a notice that the home they were renting was being foreclosed.
“Thank you to everyone who worked on the house and thanks to the Habitat people for making our dreams come true,” Moore said. “It was worth the hard work.”
The family will receive a zero-interest mortgage rate on the home, due to the hours they had to finish through Habitat for Humanity.
Since 1982, Habitat for Humanity of Lee County has provided 1,000 families with safe and affordable places to live.