Two years after receiving a $200,000 grant to build or renovate one or two homes in Westbrook, Middlesex Habitat for Humanity doesn’t yet have an affordable option for renovation or a plot of land on which to build. Now, Habitat for Humanity is directly appealing to those who own five or more acres of land in Westbrook.

Middlesex Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Sarah Bird has composed a letter to be sent to those who own five or more acres. The letter requests an outright donation, which would be tax deductible, or a sale of the land at a reduced cost. The difference between the value of the land and the sale price would be tax deductible, the letter states.

Bird is working with the Westbrook Board of Selectmen, which reviewed and approved the letter.

“We’re doing everything we can,” First Selectman Noel Bishop said. “Nothing would please our town leaders more than to have a Habitat for Humanity house in our town.

“I have been very vigilant working with people I know in the town to try to identify some land, three-quarters of an acre or an acre that can be donated at a reasonable cost so that most of the money [Habitat for Humanity has] received can be used to build the home,” Bishop continued.

A town-owned site at Fiske Lane was strongly opposed to by residents in May, and Habitat for Humanity resolved to find other options. The organization has looked at several properties that required renovation, but “the costs were so astronomical that it doesn’t make sense to do it,” said Bird.

Filling a Need

Connecticut has an affordable housing crisis, Bird said. To be considered affordable, housing cannot cost more than 30 percent of one’s income.

“There are people driving long distances because they can’t afford to live in the town where they’re working. Many towns have volunteer firemen, volunteer EMTs. What happens when those people retire and the people who can do those jobs can’t afford to live there?” Bird asked.

“It would be fantastic if there were developers out there who were developing homes and selling them at a much lower cost,” Bird continued. “That’s not happening. That’s why there’s a need for Habitat for Humanity.”

According to United Way, 40 percent of households in Connecticut are either below the poverty line or can be categorized as ALICE, which stands for asset limited, income constrained, employed: those above the poverty line who are still struggling to make ends meet.

A 2018 United Way assessment shows Westbrook has the fifth-highest percentage of residents designated as ALICE or living below the poverty line in Middlesex County.

That doesn’t mean affordable housing isn’t an issue in Westbrook. Many jobs in the town are seasonal, Bird pointed out. Enabling more families to move to Westbrook by providing options for affordable housing is a “win-win for the town. You have a homeowner who’s now paying taxes, sending their kids to school there, shopping locally.”

Bishop agrees.

“When you bring community leaders together, the number one issue in Connecticut and, in particular, in Middlesex County, is affordable housing,” he said.

Working with Habitat for Humanity “demonstrates in a visible way to the community that we are addressing the needs of affordable housing. This has to be one of our highest priorities.”

The Next Steps

Bird is now working to ensure the grant, which was provided through the Bea and Shailer Breck Foundation/the Sturges G. and Leander H. Redfield Foundation, brings the greatest benefit.

“If somebody donated land, that would be fantastic,” she said. “That is everyone’s goal: to get something donated. We would still have to raise money to build two houses. However, a donation would make it a lot easier to build two houses than having to purchase the property.”

Assuming land is obtained, the next step will be a detailed design of the house. Energy efficiency is of utmost importance, said Bird.

“The goal is to set families up with success,” she said.

Moving a family in only to find that they are unable to keep up with energy bills would defeat the purpose.

Once the design is completed, the organization will have a meeting for interested families to learn more about the location of the property, the design of the house(s), and the eligibility requirements. The application process takes six weeks.

A committee of volunteers meets with the families that have applied, in order to determine which has the most pressing needs. Are they living in unsafe conditions? Is overcrowding an issue? Are they unable to afford their rent?

With the family selected, building begins. The future homeowner(s) will work on the house, as well as volunteers, building up sweat equity in their future home. Each member of the family who is 18 or older is required to put in 200 hours of work on the house.

And the home is not free. Habitat for Humanity fundraises as much money as needed to ensure that the house is completely paid for by the time it is constructed. The new homeowners take out an interest-free mortgage with the organization and pay their monthly installments to Habitat for Humanity. That mortgage will have been determined to be affordable for the family based on income. As long as the family stays in the home, they will not be liable for the home’s entire value. If they foreclose or sell the house, however, a second mortgage will kick in for the market value of the home.