Bonita Hall owned a house once, but lost it when she separated from her husband.
“It?s ridiculous that land prices are so high that you need two incomes to get a house,” said the mother of four, who works as a probation monitor agent in Bel Air. She and her children ? the youngest is 7, the oldest just graduated from Edgewood High School ? were living in an apartment in Edgewood. But when the rent went up, they moved into her mother?s town house, also in Edgewood.
Now they are among hundreds of families who will get new homes of their own this week as a result of Habitat for Humanity?s Home Builders Blitz.
Between Monday and Friday, 1,000 professional builders will put their skillsto work erecting more than 400 houses for 130 Habitat chapters across the country ? the largest charity house build in U.S. history, according to the national organization.
The Anne Arundel and Harford chapters are among those participating. Each chapter will build two houses this week.
Hall?s new home will be on Baltimore Street in Aberdeen.
Both houses are one floor, between 1,000 and 1,200 square feet and blend in with others in the neighborhood.
“It?s exciting, because I didn?t think it would be done, but they have so many people, they were getting it up quick,” said Hall, commenting on what had been accomplished before she even left for work in the morning. “It?s shocking.”
“They?re simply nice, well-built homes,” said Joann Blewett, executive director of Harford Habitat for Humanity. “In a heartbeat, I would own one of these homes.”
Habitat builds homes for five of the 100 families who apply each year, Blewett said. Requirements include that they must be Harford County residents for one year, live in “sub-standard housing” and have low incomes.
Bob Ward Cos. and Pulte Homes? Maryland division are donating labor and materials so that two single, working mothers? families have new homes in Aberdeen, estimated to be worth about $200,000 by Lou Baker, president of Pulte?s Maryland division. That includes the cost of the land, which Habitat bought and paid for.
“We will truly change the lives of these people,” Baker said. “And that?s pretty cool.”
“Bob Ward has been supportive over the years, but never to this capacity,” Blewett said. “Basically they?re taking ownership of this house. Having an entire house sponsored allows for more families to be housed.” Construction companies are shouldering more responsibility than before, Blewett said.
