From Homeless to Home Owner, Christmas Comes Early for One Family

WHITESBORO – Amid baskets of household items, hugs, tears of joy and smiles, Dorothy Gilbert and her five children were presented keys to their new home Dec. 14, courtesy of Habitat For Humanity Cape May, Family Promise, dozens of other companies and 168 volunteers who put in more than 3,000 hours to build the house on Sumner Street.
“This is pay day,” Susan Hellings said to the group of family, friends, community sponsors and volunteers at the dedication ceremony. As a representative of Habitat’s board of directors, Hellings was among a dozen hosts showing off the new five-bedroom, two-bath “energy star” home.
“It’s an exciting moment to be here,” Shawn Lockyear, Habitat executive director said, as she went through a long list of sponsors who had donated services, goods, funding and volunteers to help build the house, including the new homeowners.
“This is the first time we are seeing the house all finished,” said 13-year-old Sammantha Gilbert, as she proudly showed off bedrooms painted in bright green, deep pink, light browns and beige.
“We picked out the colors in the bedrooms,” she added, “and even helped paint.”
As recipients of a Habitat home, the Gilberts are required to put 300 hours of “sweat equity” into their home and others. Families pay a monthly mortgage, which is used to finance more Habitat homes.
Theirs is the third Habitat home on Sumner Street, due to the lots being donated by Middle Township, with the support and efforts of the Middle Township Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. The Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity program provided 50 percent of the cost of the construction and The Mustard Seed of Cape May County awarded a $50,000 grant per house.
It was just four years ago that Gilbert found herself homeless and at the doors of Family Promise of Cape May County, which stepped in to help.
Its network of faith communities and meals enabled the Gilberts to get back on their feet. Gilbert is a certified nursing assistant and a certified medical assistant living in Wildwood.
“Two years ago we were told we were on the list to get a Habitat house,” Gilbert said. “We’ve been waiting ever since. It’s been a crazy time. I’ve been laughing, crying, hugging people I’ve just met, I’m just so thankful for everyone’s help. My emotions are all over the place.”
The Gilberts hope to complete the final paperwork so they’ll be moved into their new home for Christmas.
Dec. 14, stockings were hung on each bedroom door with the name of the sibling whose room it was. A well-adorned kitchen was stocked with Christmas cookies and coffee for the dedication.
“I’m not much of a cook,” Gilbert admitted, “but look at that beautiful kitchen. Now, my kitchen can hold two people, no more. I’m certainly going to be cooking and using this kitchen.”
One of the grants used for the house required all appliances and the house to be energy efficient, with the ENERGY STAR label. “Now, everything at our house is electric,” Gilbert said. “With all this ENERGY STAR, my utility bills should be much more affordable.”
Habitat for Humanity is not a giveaway program; the Gilbert family applied for the home along with 65 other local families, and were selected based on need, willingness to partner with Habitat, and ability to pay the monthly mortgage (including property taxes and insurance).
“Habitat homes are sold to partner families at less than market value, which is made possible by the generosity of volunteers and donors,” said Lockyear, “and a zero-interest mortgage provided by Habitat Cape May.
“The dedication of this home is particularly special as it highlights the work of two local non-profits, Habitat and Family Promise, which partner together to offer families in need a hand up in our local community,” she added.
“We bring hope,” said Laurie Johnson, director, Family Promise of Cape May County. “Four years ago, this family was without a home and we provided shelter from our network of churches. The family did so well in our program. You just can’t put a price on hope.”
Family Promise of Cape May is a non-profit organization keeping homeless families together during their time of crisis by providing safe shelter and meals in congregational facilities.
It also provideS support services needed to educate, encourage, and empower these families in their quest to re-establish their individual pride and independence.
“This is family,” Johnson said, choking back tears as she looked at the Gilbert family and others at the Dec. 14 dedication. “This is a gift of new life.”
Habitat Cape May will be constructing two more homes during 2015, the first is underway. Sign up for volunteer opportunities at www.habitatcapemaycounty.org.
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.
For previous coverage on this story, go to: http://goo.gl/8vwDSv.