Habitat for Humanity Sets Sights on Gude Street Property

Habitat for Humanity may be moving into the Gude Street neighborhood. 

At the Wednesday, June 15, meeting, Susan Rooks, a representitive for the non-profit, and Town Planner John Hansen asked Selectmen to give their blessing to a proposed Gude Street housing project in the form of a letter that will be sent to a state agency. Habitat for Humanity would like to buy the town-owned property, a vacant lot was aquired in the mid '90s under a tax title. A 1,000-square-foot home would be then built.

According to Rooks, the non-profit pays for the materials to build the home. The family who eventually moves into the home helps construct the project.

"It's a clean, decent place to live," she said.

Families who live in Habitat for Humanity homes are not allowed to sell or "flip" a home for profit - but they do retain the equity they invest in the home if they decide to leave. 

"People have a lot of misperceptions on how [Habitat for Humanity] runs. People think people get houses for free," she said. " But we help them to build their own house...It's not a hand-out, it's a hand-up."

It will be months until project will get started, said Rooks.

Board of Selectmen endorsed the project and said Habitat for Humanity provides a necessary service for communities.