Site Preparation and Our Partner Family
updated 7/31/00
www.gmwp.org/2001/siteandfamily.html
The 2001 GRAND MASTER'S WORK PROJECT house will be built in partnership with Roane County HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Inc. Roane County HFH was chartered as an affiliate of HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INTERNATIONAL in 1991 and completed and dedicated its first house in December 1992. Vision 2013/HFH Partnership Task Force chairman, Brother Tom Boduch began working with Roane HFH on its first day of construction in October 1992. In 1994 he was elected to the Board of Directors. In 1998, he was elected president and chairman of the board, and is still serving in this capacity. He also serves as construction site supervisor.
Since 1992, Roane County HFH has built 23 houses all over Roane County. In October 1998, Roane HFH purchased a 3 acre vacant and overgrown lot located next to Union Lodge #38 in Kingston (Brother Boduch is a Past Master of this Lodge). The property extends between West Spring and Fisher Streets. Brother Pittman Beard, a member of Union Lodge #38, and his son Brother Ronnie, cleared the lot, extended a road and utility lines and turned the property into a
10 house sub-division. 3 Lots are located on West Spring Street next to Union Lodge (see photo at left). 1 Lot is located on Fisher Street. Fisher street has been extended and a 6 house cul-de-sac named HOPE circle has also been created. Reflective of HABITAT's Christian Ministry and goals, Roane HFH named this sub-division the HOPE Sub-Division.
Since 1998, 3 houses have been built. Shown in the photo at left (from left to right) are Union Lodge #38 (brick building), Roane HFH house #20 (blue vinyl siding--dedicated on October 17, 1999), Roane HFH house #18 (light vinyl siding--dedicated in December 1998) and the 2001 GMWP lot. The 2001 GMWP House will be the 5th house built in the Hope Sub-Division, and Roane HFH's 25th house. The photo below shows a close-up view of the 2001 GMWP building lot.
HABITAT's homeonwers are called PARTNER FAMILIES, because they must work 500 hours of SWEAT EQUITY helping build thier own homes and those of other HFH homeowners. When completed, HFH houses are sold to partner families at cost with no interest and no profit. HFH provides the family with a 20 year no-interest mortgage to repay the loan. As Partner families make their payments, the money is recycled and used to build more houses. At present, Roane County HFH is building one house each year from the payments of existing homeowners.
The 2001 GMWP partner family are Paul and Darlene McElroy and their two children Amanda (age 16) and Jeremy (age 10). Paul and Darlene are shown in the photo at left standing in their future front yard. The McElroys were approved for home ownership on May 11, 2000 and as of July 2000, have already worked 100 hours helping build other HFH homes. They are presently living in a small rented house in very poor repair in Rockwood, and are eager to start working on their own home. Paul works at a local mill as a mechanic.