Couple's Habitat For Humanity Home: 'A Place To Call Our Own'

RIVERSIDE, NY — A new chapter is set to unfold for a couple who will see their dreams of home ownership realized as Habitat for Humanity Suffolk, along with the Southampton Housing Authority, raises the walls on a new house in Riverside Saturday.

The home is the next in a series of five to be created in Riverside; the wall raise will take place on Old Quogue Road at 9 a.m.

Members of the Southampton town board will don hard hats and swing a hammer while Boy Scout Troop 483, chartered by the Hampton Bays United Methodist Church, cooks breakfast for the volunteers, construction staff and others at the event.

Several elected officials will be in attendance, including Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman.

"Once this home is completed, Christopher and Amanda will have their dream of homeownership fulfilled," Habitat for Humanity Suffolk said.

Christopher and Amanda, whose last names were not given, both grew up under "challenging conditions," Habitat for Humanity Suffolk said.

Christopher said his family moved often before his parents settled on Long Island.

"My parents' finances fluctuated, so having stability was hard," he said. "My wife, Amanda, was raised by divorced parents; her mother provided for two children to the best of her abilities."

The chance to set down roots means everything, Christopher said.

"Owning our own home means we can start our family, finally have a sense of security, and a place to call our own," he said. "More importantly, it is the foundation to build a home for the children we plan to have in the near future."

The couple thanked all involved: "We are blessed to have people that genuinely care about helping others," he said.

Christopher and Amanda heard about the program through a family member and also, from a couple that owns a Habitat for Humanity home.

The couple need to complete 300 hours of “sweat equity,” helping to build their future home and houses for others in the program. In addition, they will go through financial preparation classes and volunteer for community service. Each homeowner in the program signs a 30-year mortgage with 2-percent interest, with Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk holding a second mortgage on the homes.

"To be able to help build our home, to watch the process unfold and experience each moment together is a wonderful opportunity," Christopher said. "We look forward to the day we are able to proudly tell our children we built this home with help from the community and Habitat Suffolk, and hope this inspires them to work as hard as we did to give them a safe place to live."