Director's Note
November, 2012

Greetings!

I'm often asked: "what's in our plans for next year?" Here's an update on what's in the works - planning and preparation for 2013 and even 2014.

           

Home dedications: Be sure to join us when we announce the dedication of homes now in construction - beginning at the turn of the year, and through the coming spring. This has been a fabulous construction season - terrific leaders, wonderful community volunteers & support; and energetic partner families. We will dedicate 5 homes in Bourne, Eastham, Mashpee and Truro.

 

            Falmouth: We have received our zoning board approval for two homes on a Town-donated parcel of land at 31 Glenwood Avenue. These will be in the "attached, two-family style" - a three bedroom and a one-bedroom. The application deadline for these homes is Nov. 26. We welcome you to help spread the word, and if you do know a family who might benefit from this opportunity, encourage them to finish and submit that application. We are especially grateful for the financial support already committed: Town of Falmouth Community Preservation (CPC) funds, and Behrens Fund of St. Barnabus Church as well as other generous church donations. Long time Habitat leader, Bob Leary, has signed on as the House Leader for this build. Although schedule changes are always possible, we are working towards this being our first wall raising in the spring.

            Mashpee: We also have our zoning approval for two 3-bedroom ranch-style homes at 6 & 9 Park Place, town-donated lots. Barry Clickstein has agreed to serve as House Leader. Applications for these homes are open until December 17. Start date: late spring/early summer - to be announced.

            Centerville: 72 Ginger Lane, Centerville for one home is a new gift in the truest sense ... a private donor who called unexpectedly to make a land contribution. We are peddling fast to do all the prep work to get this onto the 2013 build schedule. If permitting is as straight forward as it now appears to be - we'll make it happen. (Watch for applications in early 2013).

            Orleans: 31 Namskaket Rd. will be a subdivision of five Habitat homes. The Zoning Board has voted its approval, and we are appreciative of the Orleans CPC grant that funded the purchase of this beautiful site, and will pay for some of the soft costs. We need to put in the road and utilities for this cul de sac, so we expect the wall raisings for these homes to begin mid-summer. There is already an Apostles' Build support initiative in progress under the leadership of Bob Renn of the Church Relations Committee. A number of churches have already made donations or commitments and more discussions are in progress. Perhaps one house will be a Home Builders' Blitz?! Too soon to say for sure, but the conversation with the Home Builders and Remodelers Association is underway. WomenBuild!? We'd love to have that happen on this site - whether a whole house sponsorship or a series of Women Build Team Days. We are also reaching out to our friends in banking and business to support this great community initiative. Hutker Architects of Falmouth worked with us pro bono to produce new house designs. Applications will be available soon.

 

More homes!

Chatham: We were very recently awarded a parcel of land from the Chatham Housing Authority to build four Habitat homes in the W. Main St. area. Likely you will see applications open and site work by the fall of 2013. Right now we are focused on producing the final designs, commencing the permitting process, and fundraising.

Yarmouth: We had expected to be in construction in Yarmouth in 2013 and have worked diligently towards that end. However we have encountered a variety of significant "issues" with the parcels that we have identified within the price range set by our CPC grant for land purchases. We are in the feasibility/pre-permitting stage with two different sites under agreement. Announcements will be made about this projects whenever we have the "all clear."

Other: There is very active "prospecting" going on now by our volunteer Land Acquisition Committee and staff member Leedara Zola. Other initiatives are not yet ready to announce. We strive to keep our land "pipeline" full so that we will be ready for early spring 2014, 2015 and beyond.

 

Behind the scenes: As you may imagine, to generate and support the activity described above there is a lot of great, collaborative work going on with the non-construction side of our operations: fundraising, family selection and partnering, land acquisition and permitting. A HUGE Thank You to everyone who has helped to create so many new opportunities for families in need of a hand up to purchase decent and affordable homes they will help to build.

 

A few more important plans for 2013

ReStore expansion: After 11 months of operation, ReStore can be declared a success by three important measures: 1) Net profits are being paid into the Habitat for Humanity operating account to help fund homes. 2) We are keeping TONS of material out of the trash stream. 3) The constant influx of quality donations and the ever increasing customer sales activity has justified us moving forward with plans to expand our store during 2013 from 5,000 to 10,000 square feet. If you have not already visited - please do stop by: 9 - 5, Wed. - Saturday at 28 Whites Path, So. Yarmouth. We need you to tell your friends, neighbors and family that ReStore is the smart and fun place to shop first for furniture and building supplies!

            Disaster Relief team trip(s): Our disaster relief team leaders can't yet know where we will be going to assist or when - but it is a sure thing that we will be lending a hand - as soon as our friends in affected areas are ready to receive outside volunteer teams dedicated to re-building. Please watch for announcements.

            Kayak raffle: Cheers - Pat and Bill have the next one in construction ....

            "Peter's House:" Volunteers Ralph and Anne Specht have donated land to Seven Hills Community Services towards a staffed residence in Yarmouth for adults challenged by certain disabilities. The home will be primarily contractor-built. However, honoring the Specht's desire to keep this as a true community project, the Habitat family stands ready to partner for some great community days of support whether it be volunteer sidewall shingling, wall-raising or other. We'll be keeping an eye on the project schedule and announce our community days well in advance.

            25th Anniversary Gala: Sarah Tribuzio, our Director of Resource Development has been gathering a planning team (please contact Sarah if you would like to be part of this team) to host a great evening to raise funds and celebrate in the fall of 2013. By that time we will be well on our way towards raising the roof on our 100th Habitat for Humanity home on Cape Cod. We know many people in the Cape Cod community will want to Help Build It!

           

Habitat for Humanity founder, Millard Fuller, once said "Owning one's own house has been called The American Dream, but it's bigger than that, we are dealing with a truth which is universal in scope. Everyone who gets sleepy at night should have a warm, dry and decent place to lay his head. Everyone needs a simple, decent place to live, on terms they can afford to pay - and providing it is elemental goodness, truth, and love in action."

 

Our thanks to all of you who contribute to the good work we do together.

 

In partnership,

Vicki

Victoria Goldsmith

Executive Director


Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod
411 Main Street
Yarmouthport, MA 02675
508-362-3559