With all the contractors living in the Lambertville area, it should be no problem for Habitat for Humanity to find the help it needs to build a house on Connaught Hill and two more in West Amwell.
The area has a long history of helping its neighbors. We hope it won’t be any different now. And that goes for other residents who might not be contractors, but can wield a hammer as well.
Habitat has put out a call for help. It wants to start clearing the lot for the house on Connaught Hill this month as it continues its screening for a needy family to occupy it. The actual construction is planned for mid- to late September.
It needs help on Wednesdays, in particular, from skilled volunteers. That mid-week crew is the core of Habitat’s building program, which does not schedule construction any other weekday.
The family selected for the house will put in 250 to 300 hours of "sweat equity" itself to help with construction. In turn, it will receive a 0 percent interest mortgage.
Habitat finances its affordable housing for needy families by private and corporate donations. It needs groups willing to fund the two houses in West Amwell, but it also needs the help of local residents as well as the family to whom the house is sold for the actual construction.
Lambertville and West Amwell property assessments are going through the roof, and it’s just that more difficult for needy families to buy homes here. This area needs more affordable housing, and Habitat is willing to provide that with the help of the community.
Get involved. Call (908) 704-0016.