Springs EMTs See Dreams Come True In Habitat For Humanity Home

SPRINGS, NY — Dreams came true for local first responders when they were selected as the owners of a new Habitat for Humanity home in Springs.

EMTS Anthony LaFountain and Cheyenne Banville, volunteer first responders for the Springs Fire Department who also work in East Hampton, will be present Monday for a dedication ceremony to be held at their new home on Hartley Boulevard in Springs.

Also attending will be Habitat Suffolk CEO Lee Silberman, East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc and Ben Krupinski Builder principal Ray Harden.

The new, affordable home was funded through Habitat Suffolk’s CEO Build and Blitz Build programs. The home is Habitat Suffolk's first in East Hampton and 204th in Suffolk County.

The couple expressed their deep gratitude about being able to remain in the community where they live, work, and give back.

“Many local fire departments are losing young volunteer members because we cannot afford the cost of living on the Island,” said LaFountain, who was born and raised in Springs. “Volunteering as EMTs and giving back to our community are very important to us. That’s why Cheyenne and I jumped at the idea of also volunteering to help build homes."

The couple said they are forever grateful to Habitat Suffolk and the kindness of all who helped to fund and build their new home "allowing us to live in our community, continue to volunteer in the fire department and start a family together.”

Silberman said Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk is thrilled to extend its reach into the Hamptons — where the need for affordable housing is critical for locals, despite the area's reputation as a proverbial playground for the rich and famous.

"This particular CEO/Blitz Build house makes an important statement about the need for affordable housing everywhere. Communities such as East Hampton depend on first responders and service workers to function and thrive,” he said. “We could not be happier to build a home for two local first responders who could not otherwise afford to remain in their community without our help."

Silberman said Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk looks forward to working with East Hampton town officials on future projects to increase the stock of affordable housing.

"We are also grateful to our corporate sponsors and proud to partner with Ben Krupinski Builder," he said.

Corporate sponsors include AVZ Certified Public Accountants, Bank of America, BNB Bank, Eagle Business Solutions, H2M Architects + Engineers, Harrison Design, Investors Bank, ITS Environmental, M&T Bank, Palermo Paving, People's United Bank, PSEG LI, SEKO Logistics, Sharon R. Frank Real Estate, Signature Premier Properties and Wells Fargo, he said.

Harden of Ben Krupinski Builder, along with fellow principal Stratton Schellinger, grew up in the area and are donating the company’s services to oversee the home’s construction.

“There is no better feeling than helping a couple like this to get into their dream house, but even more, seeing them stay, and own their own home, in East Hampton,” Harden said.

He added that he and Schellinger decided to partner on the project when the first heard about it in February.

"Since July, we’ve been hands on and secured time and/or materials from around 15 other companies," he said. "From top to bottom, all of us will have spent nearly 1,000 hours building the 1800-square-foot house. We look forward to the couple enjoying their first Thanksgiving, of what we hope will be many, in their new home.”

The Blitz Build dimension of the project requires construction to be completed by the end of October, three weeks from the walls being raised on October 5.

The home was designed by Jack Rosebery of Rosebery Architectural Studio and features four bedrooms and one bathroom plus a basement and garage.

HFHS homes are appraised by an independent appraiser and then sold at market value to the new homeowner. To make the home more affordable, HFHS makes up the difference between the owner’s affordable mortgage and the purchase price through a second mortgage, from Habitat Suffolk, that will have no payments due unless the home is sold or rented.

HFHS said the application process for the home in East Hampton garnered 30 to 40 applications from across Suffolk County; applicants needed to demonstrate the ability to meet financial requirements around income, credit and savings, showing they could take on home ownership responsibly.

Finalists were were interviewed by members of the HFHS family selection committee "to confirm their genuine intent to live in the house, work locally and give back to Habitat Suffolk by helping to build homes for others in need. Two to three finalists are recommended to the board of directors which makes the final selection," the release said

Through grants, donations and beneficial loan terms, the goal is for the new homeowners to spend no more than one third of their income on a mortgage, local taxes and home-owner insurance.

That's in stark comparison to the rest of Suffolk County where, HFHS said, is not uncommon for households to spend half of their income on housing with little remaining to cover food, clothing and healthcare.

"Now impacted by the effect of COVID-19, more families are facing reduced salaries, loss of income and overcrowded living situations making their connection to Habitat Suffolk more meaningful and urgent," HFHS said.