Home for the holidays

BY Jennifer Hogan / Special to The Citizen

Monday, December 24, 2007 9:39 AM EST

When Jessica Corbett and her fiance, Sammy Golden, found out that Habitat for Humanity was looking for a family to occupy a donated home, the couple knew right away they wanted to apply.
Glenn Gaston / Special to The Citizen
The Habitat for Humanity sign stands in front of the home of Jessica Corbett in Sennett.
“I read an article in The Citizen that announced that they were accepting applications,” Corbett said during an open house dedication ceremony held at their newly acquired home Sunday afternoon. “I contacted them and applied for the home.”

And now, after 14 months of grueling labor, the couple, along with their daughter, Alanna Golden, 3, have been living in the home on Weedsport-Sennett Road for the past month.

“It is wonderful,” Corbett said. “It was a long process but it was well worth it.”

Habitat for Humanity connects families who cannot otherwise qualify for a conventional home loan with home ownership.

The home was donated to the organization by the Smithler family and Corbett said that she is grateful for their donation.

The building, the entire construction project, as well as building supplies and appliances, are donated.

“We are thankful to everyone who volunteered their time,” said Corbett's mother, Kathy Corbett. “They were very dedicated. It is just amazing how dedicated the volunteers were.”

As a requirement for the home, Corbett did not have to apply a traditional down payment but rather work on the home giving sweat equity instead.

“It was a great learning experience,” she said. “Sometimes when the house was going through major construction projects I would sweep up or clean.”

A total of 550 sweat equity hours are required from the homeowner during the construction phase.

“It was very overwhelming at times,” Corbett said. “Choosing the floors and counters and things like that was difficult.”

Corbett said that whenever she became too overwhelmed with the home and all of its choices, the organization's volunteers were helpful.

“Dave and Marsha Smith were always available to help me,” she said. “I am so grateful to have had them there.”

Marsha is the Habitat for Humanity treasurer and husband Dave led the construction crew.

“The entire house was gutted and rebuilt,” Corbett said. “All of the volunteers really had their hearts into it. It was very emotional.”

Corbett said the entire process from applying for the home until the day she moved in - she was amazed at the generosity of people.

“It really restores your faith,” she said. “We are very thankful.”

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