Habitat Home in Whitesboro Is Being Restored

WHITESBORO – Luisa Lopez’s home here is the last stages of rehabilitation by Habitat for Humanity of Cape May Copunty.
The one-story house at 201 Wildwood Avenue was one of the first homes built by Habitat for Humanity in Cape May County 20 years ago. Lopez raised five children in that house, but over the years the house fell into disrepair.
“We saw what was happening and decided that we were not going to let that house fail,” said Shawn Lockyear, executive director of Habitat for Humanity here. With building materials contributed by local businesses and donations from churches, organizations and people throughout the county, volunteers under the supervision of Scott Gaffney and Phil Pattison are rehabilitating the house from top to bottom, replacing drywall, insulation, doors and windows, bathroom and electric fixtures and wiring.
“When all of the work is done inside, we will paint the interior and the house will be ready for Luisa to return about Labor Day.” Lockyear said. “Luisa wants it understood that this is not a handout. She is paying for the cost of the renovation, which is being added to her mortgage with Habitat.”
On this Saturday, the volunteers included Jim and Judy Grob, Luisa’s daughter Angela, Sue Hellings, Dee Mills and Jamie Cherry. Three of Luisa’s other children have also been helping in the rehab.
Lockyear described Habitat’s volunteers as “An interesting group of people who have become like family over time. Habitat’s two construction supervisors, Scott Gaffney and Phil Pattison, have more than 50 years of construction experience between them. Our volunteers are housewives, a retired wood shop teacher , a former Army reserves soldier and mother of three, and a former Middle Township High School teacher, to name a few. All have different backgrounds, but they do a great job and we could use more like them.”
She said Habitat has already broken ground for a new home and, unlike others in the past that were modular, this will be built from scratch at 703 Reeves Street, Whitesboro, on land donated by Middle Township.
“We’ve already received 64 applications for this house,” Lockyear said. “Families qualifying for a Habitat home are those earning about $34,000 a year or less. They must participate in the building of the home and pay non-interest monthly mortgage payments that are affordable.”
An affiliate of the Habitat for Humanity, an international non-profit organization, Habitat of Cape May County was founded in 1990.
Organizations interested in contributing to Habitat or those willing to participate as a volunteer can contact the organization at www.habitatcapemaycounty.org .