Home Dedication

HOLYOKE – At 1:30pm on Wednesday, Dec. 10, Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH) will host a dedication celebrating the completion of its newest home and the collaboration that made it all possible.

GSHFH partnered with Holyoke Housing Authority (HHA) and the University of Massachusetts (UMass) DesignBuild program to make one local couple’s dream come true. HHA donated a plot of land on Chestnut Street. Greater Springfield Habitat prepared the site and built the foundation. UMass DesignBuild professors and students designed and constructed the modular home, and oversaw delivery to the Holyoke site. GSHFH will soon sell the new home to Pedro and his wife Damaris, longtime Holyoke residents.

“This is a great collaboration to give the students practical, hands-on experience, and for Habitat to provide a home to a family that might not have qualified for one of our traditionally built homes,” said Aimee Giroux, GSHFH executive director. “Family size is one of many factors taken into consideration when building our homes and partnering with the future buyer. There is a need for affordable housing to benefit a variety of family sizes; not everyone needs three or four bedrooms. This project helps us to be able to make that happen.”

The design of the 575-square-foot modular home emphasizes energy efficiency via highly-insulated and air-sealed exterior assemblies, triple-glazed windows, all-electric appliances/utilities, and low-embodied carbon building materials, such as wood fiber, hemp, and straw, said Ben Leinfelder, construction manager of this year’s DesignBuild project and an alumnus of the program.

The UMass DesignBuild team conceived the home in spring. Construction commenced in the summer and the house was delivered in November.

Pedro, who is retired, attended every info HHA session, and submitted the necessary forms two days after the application cycle opened. He and his wife currently live in a one-bedroom apartment and have complained about their unfriendly neighbors who they say makes their everyday life unenjoyable. Pedro and Damaris don’t have children together, but have a large blended family. Pedro has two daughters from a previous relationship and seven grandchildren. Damaris has three children and five grandchildren.

GSHFH is a housing ministry dedicated to strengthening communities by empowering low-income families to change their lives and the lives of future generations through homeownership and home repair opportunities. This is accomplished by working in partnership with diverse people, from all walks of life, to build and repair simple, decent, affordable housing. Habitat’s mission to provide homeownership opportunities to low-income families is unique as it requires partner families to work alongside the community that is reaching out to help them. GSHFH has helped roughly 100 local families realize their dream of homeownership over the last 38 years.

Following the ceremony will be a tour of the house and a reception. Street parking is available.

For more information, contact Olga Callirgos, Homeowner Programs coordinator, at callirgos@habitatspringfield.org or (413) 739-5503 x1003.