BUYING a home is sometimes nothing more than a dream, but thanks to Habitat for Humanity Taranaki, it will soon be a reality for four Stratford families.
Prior to starting work in Stratford, Habitat for Humanity were predominantly building in North Taranaki, but thanks to generous grants from the Taranaki Electricity Trust and the TSB Community Trust, they have moved south.
The first two local families to benefit from the project have been selected, and as part of their commitment to the project, they have to put in 500 'sweat equity' hours towards their new homes, which are located on Cloten Road.
Michelle King, who is currently putting man hours into her new four-bedroom home, is thrilled to be a part of the Habitat for Humanity project.
"The whole process has been great. I went to a meeting to see what it was all about and it has just snowballed from there. Now I am helping to build my own home. It is something I never thought would happen. We would not have been able to do it any other way," she said.
Michelle and her four boys Lee (12), David (10), Guy (7) and Max (3) are waiting expectantly for the day they can move in and call the new house home.
And thanks to a tight building schedule, they shouldn't have to wait long.
"I can't thank Habitat for Humanity enough. The work they do is amazing and being part of the process myself makes it that much more special. I can't wait for my family to be in a new home."
Sandy Galvin, the second named partner of the Stratford habitat project, has to wait a little longer to move into her new home.
She has qualified for a three-bedroom home, but construction for the house that she will share with her two sons Te Rangimarie (15), and Tamati (11), has yet to begin.
So dedicated to the work Habitat for Humanity does, she has been helping with the two houses that are already under construction.
"We are so blessed to be part of Habitat for Humanity. This has come at a time that is just right for my sons. At the moment we share a two-bedroom home. The extra space a three-bedroom home will provide will give my sons the room they need to develop as adults. It has been an absolutely amazing journey so far and I know it will only get better," she said.
Work began on two of the four planned homes on Monday, April 7, and progress to date has been significant.
Everyone who works on a Habitat for Humnaity home is a volunteer and Stratford locals have been getting right behind the project.
Already, the Conservation Corps and members of the Stratford Police have spent time working on the homes, as well as many other local people.
On Monday, a group of 12 Canadians arrived in Stratford to help with construction and they are scheduled to be here until April 22.
Keeping in mind that Stratford often has cold weather, thought has been put into keeping electricity usage down to a minimum.
Each home will have several energy saving features, including a concrete slab system with insulating properties, double glazed windows, increased ceiling and wall insulation, Fujitsu Heat Pump home heating and Rheem heat pump hot water systems.
So far, the build schedule has been hectic, but everything has been going along smoothly.
As the day when families can move in gets closer, so does the reality of being a homeowner.
Each family has to pay for their homes at Government Valuation, much like a mortgage system, but with less hassle.
Chairman of Habitat for Humanity Taranaki, Ross Cleland, is happy that Stratford is now benefiting from the scheme.
"We like to think of it as a hand up, not a hand out. The money that is paid towards a Habitat for Humanity home goes straight back into the project and helps to build more homes all over the world."
Habitat for Humanity realising dreams in Stratford
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