A Habitat for Insanity.

I have been so distracted with my change of location that I haven't spoken much about Habitat here have I?

Saturday was our first day on the site working with local volunteers and non-NCCC Americorps members.  It is so interesting to not only see volunteers there who were seen as weekly regulars but also those who just walked in off of the street to come help.  There can't be that many organizations out there who are as accessible on a volunteer level as Habitat for Humanity.  Of course I can't forget to mention one other vital part of the Habitat workforce, the soon to be homeowners themselves.  Sometimes I hear that the organization is viewed in a negative light because people believe they just give houses away.  This is not the case.  Habitat is big on a certain thing called sweat equity.  What is sweat equity you might ask?  Here's how Habitat defines it: Sweat equity is Habitat’s name for the labor that Habitat homeowners expend in building their houses and the houses of their neighbors, as well as the time they spend investing in their own self-improvement.  Just to add my own little personal opinion on this I'd like to mention that the homeowners in which I've seen on site getting in their hours are among the hardest working and vital.

As NCCC folks we will be split up between two build sites.  One team will work on Jubilee Commons which is a very unique venture.  The site broke ground in May of 2007 and must be finished by December 7th of this year.  This upcoming deadline is the biggest reason why us NCCC folks are here to help out.  Jubilee Commons represents a big undertaking for Habitat as it means adding 23 condos and a community center all comprising an interesting three story U-shaped structure. 

The other build site, Lents Landing, is a little more on par with Habitat Portland's other projects.  These houses are two story structures with a duplex sensibility.  These houses are not far from completion and will require a smaller team of NCCC members to finish.  Though it isn't set in stone, I believe this is where I will be working.

Last night we were fortunate enough to be invited to attend a ceremony for the homeowners of Lents Landing.  Normally in this celebration the homeowners would be handed their key and the final step of the project would be completed but construction is still unfinished so they were handed slightly more metaphorical keys.  Move in time or not it was still great to hear the kind words of the families and the volunteers within the organization.  It is easy to see how excited many of these families are in talking about moving into their new homes.  Frankly I can't blame them.  The homes themselves are very nice and the community couldn't be anymore inviting.  In fact the other Habitat homeowners who have already been moved into the Lents Landing area served up some great food to us all.  Being from various ethnic and national backgrounds the cuisine offerings were diverse to say the least.  I ate a few really delicious things last night but I can't even begin to tell you what they were.  In the culinary world I suppose labels don't matter much...just flavor and the individuals who prepared it all.

I have already got to speak with a few of the Habitat employees here about working in the Charlotte Restore.  It's so funny how everytime I mention Habitat Charlotte someone says they know Frank.  Apparently he's some kind of superstar.  I had no idea.

Well it is time for Josh to go to the thrift store to buy some more winter clothes.  It's cold and rainy here all the time.  Who would've guessed?