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Habitat home inspires Deer Park woman to volunteer at home and beyond

From The Garrett County Republican

DEER PARK — Working through Garrett County Habitat for Humanity, Jessica Wilson was able to acquire her own home in Deer Park about 10 years ago.

But the story doesn’t stop there. Wilson said she had such an “amazing experience” through the process that she wanted to help others have homes of their own.

“I enjoy working with Habitat locally and internationally,” she said. “I volunteer when I’m able to. I help with the dinner auction fundraiser Habitat has each year, as well as spread the word of Habitat to anyone who will listen.”

Wilson’s experience began in 2009 when she found herself in a tough relationship that she decided she needed to leave for her health and safety.

“I was a young mother with a young child on my own and nowhere to go except back to my mother’s two-bedroom trailer that she and my younger brother lived in at the time,” she explained. “For a while, my son and I slept on a blow-up mattress in my mom’s living room, pulling our clothes out of Rubbermaid totes at the beginning of each day.”

To read the full article click here.

>Habitat for Humanity – Garrett County Winter Build 2011

>Full photo gallery @Facebook I had a great time Saturday at the Garrett County Winter Build! We built all of the exterior walls for the newest Habitat for Humanity house at Hopeland Village. Lots of volunteers made this a productive & fun day! Thanks to everyone who was involved! Did you know….there has never been a house built in Garrett County for Habitat for Humanity that involved ONLY GC residents (past/present)? Volunteers come in for a few weeks during the summer from out of town and PAY to help…sleeping at local churches & eating ‘pot luck’ lunches. That’s dedication! Stay tuned – we’re working on a goal of having a 100% Garrett County built home soon. If you or someone you know is considering buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues! As member of the Garrett County Board of Realtors, I can assist you with ANY listed property, regardless of the listing broker.

877-563-5350 Questions about ANY listed property? I can help! Call me!

Visit the ‘I Love Deep Creek & Garrett County group’ on Facebook! News, events, photos, real estate, community, info, more! 1,750+ members & growing!

>Garrett County Habitat for Humanity

> VOLUNTEERS WELCOME!!! Come help us with the Garrett County Habitat for Humanity winter build project. I will be there chipping in and taking some photos for the blog. ALL HELP IS WELCOME! Details (from Barb Butler GCBR): “We have been invited to participate once again in the Habitat Winter Build project which will be held on Saturday, April 2nd beginning at 8:00 am at the Oakland Armory. Lunch will be provided and served at noon to all workers by a local church ladies group. Remember ~ this is another great way to show other community members that Realtors® also volunteer their time with housing needs and not just sales in Garrett County. If you have a child that needs community service hours and you want to bring them with you, I will be happy to sign for their work time.” If you or someone you know is considering buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues! As member of the Garrett County Board of Realtors, I can assist you with ANY listed property, regardless of the listing broker.

877-563-5350 Questions about ANY listed property? I can help! Call me!

Visit the ‘I Love Deep Creek & Garrett County group’ on Facebook! News, events, photos, real estate, community, info, more! 1,750+ members & growing!

TODAY is World Habitat Day – Habitat for Humanity

From Liza Peiffer,
On behalf of Habitat for Humanity
www.habitat.org

Habitat for Humanity hopes that by raising awareness and advocating for universal decent housing we can dismantle and alter the systems that allow for poverty housing and make an affordable, decent place to live a reality for all. Read more here.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

Deep Creek Do It All specializes in cleaning services in Garrett County & @ Deep Creek Lake. Give them a call (301-501-0217) or visit the website – competitive rates and quality results from a locally owned & operated company!

The United Nations has designated the first Monday in October as annual World Habitat Day.

On Oct. 4, 2010, in recognition of World Habitat Day, Habitat for Humanity will raise awareness of the need for improved shelter and highlight Habitat’s priorities: the worldwide connection between human health and housing, and, in the United States, neighborhood revitalization. These themes echo the United Nations’ chosen theme for 2010 for events in the host city of Shanghai, China and the rest of the world: “Better City, Better Life.”

Every week, more than a million people are born in, or move to, cities in the developing world. As a result, the urban population of developing countries will double from 2 billion to 4 billion in the next 30 years. (Kissick, et al: 2006)

By the year 2030, an additional 3 billion people, about 40 percent of the world’s population, will need access to housing. This translates into a demand for 96,150 new affordable units every day and 4,000 every hour. (UN-HABITAT: 2005)

Habitat for Humanity hopes that by raising awareness and advocating for universal decent housing we can dismantle and alter the systems that allow for poverty housing and make an affordable, decent place to live a reality for all.

Antoinette Kumwenda was able to obtain a Habitat home improvement loan that provided iron sheets for her roof.

Habitat for Humanity World Habitat Day events

Around the world, many Habitat for Humanity local offices have organized World Habitat Day events. Habitat for Humanity’s 27th annual Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project is a World Habitat Day event this year. It will be held Oct. 4 – 8 in six cities in the United States. Held in a different location each year, Habitat’s Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project is an annual, internationally-recognized week of building that brings attention to the need for simple, decent and affordable housing. This year, the Carters will work alongside volunteers in Washington, D.C.; Baltimore and Annapolis, Md.; Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.; and Birmingham, Ala. to build, rehabilitate and improve 86 homes.

Health and housing

Habitat’s World Habitat Day efforts will focus on the link between housing and health, for example, through the release of the 2011 Shelter Report, which focuses on the need for more research on the connections between healthy homes and healthy families around the world.

Neighborhood revitalization

In the United States, Habitat for Humanity will also focus on neighborhood revitalization. In a broad effort to help communities fulfill their aspirations, Habitat will expand its housing programs to include repairing more homes, rehabbing more vacant homes, and improving the energy-efficiency of homes. Habitat will work with partners to provide holistic improvements in a community.

What can you do for World Habitat Day?

Ask leaders in Washington: What will you build?

In recognition of World Habitat Day, Habitat for Humanity is collecting photos to display in a Photo Wall. Submit your photo to remind decision makers in Washington, D.C., to make housing a priority.

Getting involved is easy. All supporters need to do is:

1. Write “What will you build?” on a piece of paper.
2. Take a photo holding the message.
3. Upload the picture to Habitat’s Photo Wall.
4. Share the photo with friends and family.

To participate or learn more, click here. Questions can be sent to

worldhabitatday@habitat.org The most important thing you can do is take action! Below are three common ways that people take action in their community.

Advocate
In addition to building homes in partnership with people in need, Habitat advocates to address the causes of poverty housing. Advocacy activities always include a specific request, such as asking supporters to sign a petition, send a message to an elected official or take part in a rally.

Fundraise
World Habitat Day is a great way to raise funds for Habitat in your area. A fundraiser can help educate the public and generate publicity for nonprofit organizations like Habitat for Humanity.

Educate
Organize a public awareness event for World Habitat Day 2010 that not only highlights the need for affordable housing in your own community, but also discusses the need for improved shelter for billions of people around the world.

Housing facts

Housing improves health

The number of low-income families who lack safe and affordable housing is related to the number of children who suffer from asthma, viral infections, anemia, stunted growth and other health problems. About 21,000 children have stunted growth attributable to the lack of stable housing; 10,000 children between the ages of 4 and 9 are hospitalized for asthma attacks each year because of cockroach infestation at home; and more than 180 children die each year in house fires attributable to faulty heating and electrical equipment. (Sandel, et al: 1999)
Children younger than 5 living in Habitat for Humanity houses in Malawi showed a 44 percent reduction in malaria, respiratory or gastrointestinal diseases compared with children living in traditional houses.
Children in poor housing have increased risk of viral or bacterial infections and a greater chance of suffering mental health and behavioral problems. (Harker: 2006)
Housing deprivation leads to an average of 25 percent greater risk of disability or severe ill health across a person’s life span. Those who suffer housing deprivation as children are more likely to suffer ill health in adulthood, even if they live in non-deprived conditions later in life. (Marsh, et al.: 2000)

Housing has a positive impact on children

Children of homeowners are more likely to stay in school (by 7 to 9 percent), and daughters of homeowners are less likely to have children by age 18 (by 2 to 4 percent). (Green and White: 1996)
Owning a home leads to a higher-quality home environment, improved test scores in children (9 percent in math and 7 percent in reading), and reduced behavioral problems (by 3 percent). (Haurin, Parcel, and Haurin: 2002)
Children who live in poor housing have lower educational attainment and a greater likelihood of being impoverished and unemployed as adults. (Harker: 2006)

Housing strengthens communities

Homeowners are more likely to know their U.S. representative (by 10 percent) and school board head by name (by 9 percent), and are more likely to vote in local elections (by 15 percent) and work to solve local problems (by 6 percent). (DiPasquale and Glaeser: 1998)
Homeowners are more likely to be satisfied with their homes and neighborhoods, and are more likely to volunteer in civic and political activities. (Rohe, Van Zandt, and McCarthy: 2000)
Resident ownership is strongly related to better building security and quality, and to lower levels of crime. (Saegert and Winkel: 1998)

http://www.youtube.com/v/2UEp1ZNREzw?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

Deep Creek Do It All specializes in cleaning services in Garrett County & @ Deep Creek Lake. Give them a call (301-501-0217) or visit the website – competitive rates and quality results from a locally owned & operated company!

Habitat for Humanity, women’s shelter due funding

For the Cumberland Times-News
Cumberland Times-News

— OAKLAND — Two Garrett County Community Development Block Grants have been announced by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

A grant for $250,000 will provide funding to construct the infrastructure for development of 21 Habitat for Humanity houses outside Deer Park.

At Oakland, an $800,000 grant will be used to construct a 5,675-square-foot building to be used as a domestic violence shelter and counseling center.

The Dove Center currently operates a family violence and sexual assault resource center in Garrett County.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

Deep Creek Do It All specializes in cleaning services in Garrett County & @ Deep Creek Lake. Give them a call (301-501-0217) or visit the website – competitive rates and quality results from a locally owned & operated company!

Habitat chapter seeking applicants for first local home

A GREAT program to institute anywhere. Something I learned from the article, Garrett County has been building 5 habitat homes per year for the last 25 years!!!

Shane Riggs
Cumberland Times-News

Cumberland — CUMBERLAND — The money is in the bank. Appliances are waiting to be installed. Land has been secured. Everything is in place for Allegany County to see its first Habitat for Humanity house. The only thing missing from the plans is who will live in the house once construction is complete.

“That’s our biggest thing right now is finding our first Habitat for Humanity family in Allegany County,” said Kathy Miller, president of the local chapter. “We plan to start looking at applications August 1 and have a family hopefully chosen by August 10 for our first house.”

“We just need our first family,” said treasurer Shauna McQuade. “We need to reach our target market. As much as we have spoken to community groups we still need to find our first family to get into a house.”

Since the recipient of Allegany County’s premiere Habitat for Humanity house has not been selected, applications are still being taken through Aug. 1.

Miller and McQuade said priority will be given to the family who can show a need and also is willing to participate in the Habitat program.

“The process involves 300 hours of sweat equity,” said Miller. “So the family we select will not only be helping to build their own house but also the second house in the area Habitat for Humanity builds.”

Sweat equity hours can include actual construction to volunteer work in fundraising.

The potential Habitat for Humanity homeowner must meet financial criteria under the guidelines of the program. To continue to be a candidate, the applicant must attend “homeownership courses.”

“We basically teach people how to be a homeowner and what to do, for instance, when you need to call that $65-an-hour plumber,” Miller said.

While the program has been in the developmental stages for more than four years, this will be the first time construction of the house under the nationally recognized Habitat program will start in the local area.

“We really had to get our facts together and show on the national level that we knew what we were doing,” said Miller.

Neighboring counties have had success with the program. Washington County has been a participant for nearly a decade while Garrett County has been building five Habitat homes a year for the last 25 years.

While properties are earmarked in the city for future Habitat houses, a lot in Cresaptown has been chosen as the first official site for 2010 construction.

After the application deadlines passes, the family selection committee will narrow the list to three before a final family is selected. Mary Moran is the committee chairwoman.

“We know the need is there and so we want people to get included in being the second and third families picked as well,” she said. “We know the families are out there. We just need to get the word out and reach them.”

Miller said the Habitat for Humanity committee — made up of local volunteers and civic leaders — hopes that more families begin applying for the house between now and the deadline.

“Our biggest priority is finding the right family in need,” she said. “We have a lot of families out there living in unsafe and unsanitary conditions. And no one should have to live like that. Our motto is, a hand up, not a hand out.”

Miller assures the application processs is not complicated and should not be intimidating or overwhelming to those interested in applying.

A one-level, three-bedroom house will include donated and new appliances and will be move-in ready. The selected homeowner will be given the opportunity to choose color schemes for the interior and exterior.

Constructed at a cost of $65,000 to $85,000, the appraisal value of the house will be $125,000 when complete, said Miller.

“It’s not a lavish home but it’s a wonderful, comfortable, economical house that people can stay in for the rest of their lives.”

Applicants may be considered if present housing is not adequate and if conventional means of buying a home have failed. Candidates must have been a resident of Allegany County for the last two years. Maximum annual income levels range from $22,900 for a single person to $43,830 for those with a family of eight. The selected applicant will be purchasing the home from Habitat and monthly mortgage payments will be paid directly to the organization.

McQuade said the goal is to begin construction on the house in autumn and have the family moved in by the time the first snowflake falls.

“Once we get ground broken it will happen pretty quickly,” she said. “We hope to be done by late fall. It’s going to be a nice holiday present for one local family.”

For more information, call 301-468-5784 or 301-707-6356.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!