Site for Habitat for Humanity Duplex in Milford May be Wetland

Habitat for Humanity lot on Tonella Road, Milford, New Hampshire. Photo Courtesy of Don Himsel and The Telegraph.

by Hattie Bernstein, The Telegraph

MILFORD – Six months ago, Bob Hughes envisioned celebrating his 32nd birthday on July 23 in his own home, with his wife, Stephanie, and their children, Brianna, 13, and Jordan, 10.  Instead, the family is on the verge of homelessness.

The Hugheses were one of two families selected by Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity to become owners of a Milford duplex the volunteer group planned to build. The other family is currently renting an apartment in town.  The land for the duplex, to be built at 42-44 Tonella Road, was purchased a year ago.  The lot was cleared of debris over the winter. And volunteers, including Hughes, were waiting for the go-ahead from a surveyor who was to tell them the best location to place the house and the septic system.

Families chosen by Habitat must agree to donate 350 hours of “sweat equity” to the construction of their homes, and Hughes, a handyman technician, was itching to get started.

“In April, we started cleaning the lot in Milford,” Hughes said. “Volunteers came once a week.”  When the lot was cleared, the brush pile stood 12 feet high, 20 feet wide and 30 feet long. “It was frozen, and for weeks, we chopped, breaking it into piles, burning it and finally they got the surveyor in,” Hughes said.

That was when the bubble burst.

“We thought the surveyor would come in, get the soil tested and we’d be ready for the foundation,” Hughes said. Instead, the surveyor raised some concerns about wetlands and suggested that the group get another opinion. “The guy who sold Habitat the land told them there was a 25-foot buffer on wetlands, and the rest was buildable,” Hughes said. “What we found out was that it was all wetlands, and there was no place to put a foundation, absolutely no place.”

Recently, Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity issued a press release announcing the Milford construction project had been put on hold because of “discrepancies” in reports from soil and plant experts. But Robert Todd, of Todd Land Use Consultants in New Boston, said Richard Kohler, his certified wetlands scientist, reported tests show “the soil is saturated.” “I surveyed the lot next door two years ago, and I saw a lot of wetlands,” Todd said. “I told Rick to be on the lookout for wetland conditions, to be forewarned.”

It’s a bitter bill for the nonprofit dedicated to building and renovating houses for families who need some help to become homeowners. And it’s worse for the families. The Hughes family has been without a permanent residence for three years.

In 2007, just before Christmas, their Hudson landlord said he was selling his house and gave the family 30 days to move out. They put their belongings in storage and moved to Hughes’ in-laws’ apartment in Milford, planning to save to buy a house. Instead, they encountered more hardship: his mother-in-law lost her job; his father-in-law became seriously ill; and the couple used their savings to help with bills. Realizing they would never get ahead while helping their extended family, the couple moved to the Ann-Marie House in Hudson, a place for families in transition that provides shelter and financial education. The aim of Ann-Marie House is to help families set financial goals and become self-sufficient.

The Hughes were making progress.

Then Hughes’ father-in-law took a turn for the worse, and the family moved back to Milford to help. At one point, there were seven people living in his in-laws’ two-bedroom apartment. Hughes said he learned about the Habitat for Humanity program after he signed up to volunteer: It hadn’t occurred to him that he would qualify.

To be selected for the program, a family must have a low to moderate income and earn enough to pay back the mortgage.

The Hugheses applied and didn’t hear anything. They took a first-time home buyer’s course taught by a former Habitat volunteer. “He put our name on the list. It was one of the first lucky breaks I’ve had in the last three years,” Hughes said of the recommendation that put him in line for one of two homes that were to be built in Milford.

His luck turned bad, again, however, several weeks ago when he learned about the surveyor’s report. Around the same time, his mother-in-law told the family they would have to move in 30 days, since she was buying a mobile home and giving up the apartment. “We have to be out by July 25, and because we don’t have a rental history; it’s hard to get a place,” Hughes said.

Ed Lopez, president of Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity, said he hasn’t thrown in the towel completely. “We want to see if there are alternative solutions,” Lopez said. A town official said experts planned to review the surveys, and Lopez said Milford officials will give the property “a fresh look.” “The market was not the best when we purchased it. It was expensive,” Lopez said of the $105,000 lot, close to the downtown.

But Hughes, who is two weeks from having no roof to put over his family’s head, is perfectly clear about the surveyors’ reports.

He doesn’t expect a miracle.

“In a nutshell, we have nowhere to go … even though we have jobs and a good credit report. We explain the situation, and they say, ‘No.’”

Hattie Bernstein can be reached at 603.673.3100, ext. 24, or hbernstein@cabinet.com.

Directions from NH-101 overpass over NH-101A (Nashua Street, at the Amherst / Milford line):

Continue west on NH-101A W/Nashua St. 1.5 mi to Left (just before County Store) onto TONELLA RD. 0.2 mi to Left to house site on east side of the road

See as many of you as can make it, starting about 9:00.

Completed since last Saturday:

• 42-44 Tonella Road, Milford: Discussions / meetings with surveyor, and also with potential excavators.

Upcoming events:

• Temporary power, Tonella Road, Milford.
• Spring excavation / foundation support for Tonella Road, Milford – still seeking donations / deals.
• Punch list items and hanging doors, 40 Chestnut Street, Nashua – probably March 27th.

Other small projects being coordinated.

eric

Cell: 620-4182

Courtesy of the Town of Milford.

Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity to Gather Area Churches and Faith Groups to Build Awareness of Milford Building Project

Building Committee Chairman Eric Moore guides volunteers in a pre-construction brush and wood clearing effort. Photo by Marie Lopez.

CONTACT:  MARIE LOPEZ, OFFICE MANAGER                              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TEL. 603-883-0295                                                                                   
EMAIL: office@nashuahabitat.org

Milford – Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity will begin the construction of a duplex home on Tonella Road, in Milford, in a few weeks.  It will hold a meeting that is open to all members of the public in order to answer questions related to this project and to increase its volunteer pool in Milford and the surrounding area.  This is an opportunity for local residents and for potential volunteers to meet Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity leaders and to learn about the organization’s efforts. 

The organization also seeks the opportunity to reach local business owners willing to donate goods spanning from meals for volunteers to labor and construction equipment use.  The organization will answer questions about this specific project as well as questions from those interested in partnering with Habitat for Humanity to become home-owners in future projects.  At the moment the organization is also in the planning stages to build homes in Wilton and Nashua and is seeking applications from families for these properties. 

This “Habitat Information Night” meeting will be held at the Boys and Girls Club of Souhegan Valley, located at 56 Mont Vernon Street, in Milford, (New Hampshire, 03055), from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM on Monday, February 8^th, 2010. 

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.  Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need. 

# # # 

If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview, please call Marie Lopez at 603-883-0295. You can also email the Public Relations team at pr@nashuahabitat.org.

Free firewood! 

Please bring chainsaws, etc. as available – can’t burn anything over 5-inches in diameter (but can remove anything suitable as firewood).

Directions from NH-101 Overpass Over NH-101A (Nashua Street, at the Amherst / Milford Line):

1. Continue west on NH-101A W / Nashua St. 1.5 miles to
2. Left (just before County Store) onto TONELLA ROAD. 0.2 miles to
3. Left to house site, on east side of the road…

We hope to see as many of you as can make it, starting about 9:00 AM.

This is a big job; would appreciate good turnout. Between the work and the fire, it’ll be plenty warm…

Directions from NH-101 overpass over NH-101A (Nashua Street, at the Amherst / Milford line):

1. Continue west on NH-101A W/Nashua St. 1.5 mi to
2. Left (just before County Store) onto TONELLA RD. 0.2 mi to
3. Left to house site on east side of the road

Thanks for responses to date on new parking area for the HFH truck. It should soon have its new home…

Also, still looking for a storage area suitable for donated windows and bathroom toilets / sinks. These would go into the Milford duplex, meaning that we’d want storage from mid-December through early next fall when they would go into the duplex. Will also be looking for volunteers to help move these items from Bedford.

Upcoming events:

• Building permits and temporary power, Milford lot.
• Spring excavation / foundation support for Tonella Road, Milford – seeking donations / deals.
• Other small projects being coordinated.

eric

Cell: 620-4182

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TO HOLD MEETING FOR POTENTIAL HOME APPLICANTS
Organization in Need to Increase Applicant Pool 

Nashua – Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity will hold a Habitat Information Night meeting for those who are interested in applying for homes in Milford, Nashua, and Wilton.  The meeting will be held this coming Tuesday, June 23rd, from 7:00pm to 8:00pm at the Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity Annex Office, Main Street United Methodist Church, 154 Main Street, Nashua, New Hampshire (03060).  The application process, requirements for applicants, possible ways in which applicants might overcome obstacles in the application process, and an explanation of how families are ultimately selected will all be discussed during this meeting.  While the organization’s volunteer needs will be discussed, it is placing special emphasis on the application process. 

Public Relations Committee Chairman Ed Lopez is stressing the need for those in the Greater Nashua community to become aware of the unique opportunity that has presented itself: “Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity has never offered so many home ownership opportunities at once.  It is critical for people to understand that in this economic climate a family whose circumstances make home ownership difficult might find an opportunity through Habitat for Humanity.  A zero percent interest mortgage and the kindness and hard work of many volunteers involved in the process of building a Habitat home afford this unique opportunity for families in need.” 

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.  Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need. 

Please reserve your space at this meeting by contacting Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity’s Public Relations Committee at pr@nashabitat.org; over 35 volunteers and applicants attended last April’s Habitat Information Night: potential volunteers and potential home applicants are urged to reserve a space at the meeting as soon as possible.

# # # 

If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Jerry Harrow, please call Ed Lopez at 603-883-0295 or email Ed at ed.lopez@nashabitat.org.

Directions from the Milford oval – 0.5 mi west on Elm Street to left on Columbus Ave – SHARE sign out front, between Robbins Auto and Harvey’s Music. The cinder block SHARE building is at the end; ramp will go at the back (south) side.

See as many of you as can make it, starting around 9:00 AM.

Completed since last Saturday:

• (SHARE, Columbus Ave., Milford) Framed both platforms, plus one ramp, installed the upper platform and decked it. Dug post holes and poured concrete piers for all posts.

Upcoming events:

• Building permit and temporary power, 7-1/2 Ridge Street, Nashua
• Fence for autistic boy, Nashua (subject to weather)
• Siding, fence, and deck repairs, 63 Tolles Street, Nashua (subject to weather, deferred work from December / January)
• Other small projects being coordinated

eric

Cell: 620-4182

Directions from the Milford oval – 0.5 mi west on Elm Street to left on Columbus Ave – SHARE sign out front, between Robbins Auto and Harvey’s Music. The cinder block SHARE building is at the end; ramp will go at the back (south) side.

See as many of you as can make it, starting around 9:00 AM.

Upcoming events:

• Building permit and temporary power, 7-1/2 Ridge Street, Nashua
• Fence for autistic boy, Nashua (subject to weather)
• Siding, fence, and deck repairs, 63 Tolles Street, Nashua (deferred work from December / January)
• Other small projects being coordinated

eric
Cell: 620-4182