Two Harford County families are one step closer to home ownership thanks to the efforts of two local companies and Harford Habitat.As part of a national blitz seeking to build more than 400 homes in five days, Bob Ward Cos. and the Maryland division of Pulte Homes have partnered with Harford Habitat to build two homes in Harford County.
The homes, which are being built by professional builders contracted by the two companies, along with Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Harford County, will be sold to two familiesheaded by single, working mothers who will become homeowners for the first time.
According to Joann Blewett, executive director of Harford Habitat, the homes are sold for the discounted price of $65,000. Median home price is $245,000 in Harford County, according to numbers supplied by the Harford County Office of Economic Development.
“It?s the only place where they can buy a home for the cost of construction,” Blewett said. “It means a new start for our families in so many ways.”
Blewett added that this is the first time Harford Habitat has participated in a “blitz build,” and that the Harford homes will actually be built in four days so they can be presented to the owners on the fifth day of the national blitz.
The Harford County portion of the Home Builders Blitz 2006 kicked off last week with an event in Bel Air, where the two families met with construction teams and top-ranking officials from Pulte and Bob Ward. Construction will begin the first week of June.
Harford Habitat for Humanity is one of 130 Habitat affiliates across the country participating in this year?s program, which is billed as the largest Habitat program of its kind.
Joe Gregory, purchasing manager of Bob Ward Cos., said that his company has worked with Harford Habitat on other projects in the past. He estimates the company is investing between $20,000 and $30,000 in time and labor as most of the materials will be donated.
“We always try to do something for the community every year,” Gregory said. “When this came up we thought it was the perfect opportunity.”
Five other Maryland-based Habitat affiliates also will participate in the effort: Arundel Habitat in Arnold; Cecil County Habitat in North East; Garrett County Habitat in Oakland and Washington County Habitats in Hagerstown. The Harford and Arundel Habitats are the only state affiliates to construct two homes. The others will raise the walls of one home each.
Building on the mission
» Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry dedicated to eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, the organization has built more than 200,000 homes in nearly 100 countries.
