On the scene: Habitat family works to build a dream

I'm sitting across the desk from Greg Ross, director of the Athens County Habitat for Humanity, watching his animated face and bright eyes dance as he talks about the latest Habitat project currently underway.

"œWe don't give handouts, we give a hand up," he says emphatically. It is obvious from watching him that he is passionate about the services Habitat for Humanity provides to the Athens community.

"œOur mission is to get families out of substandard housing," he continues. "œFamilies who make 30 to 60 percent of the median income of Athens County qualify."

And the latest housing mission of Habitat is for Darrick and Ashley Wires of Albany. Married for eight years, Darrick, 34 and Ashley, 26, along with their three young daughters "“ Kelly, Joy and Katie "“ have been living in a 30-year-old trailer on Darrick's parents property for most of their married life.

"Our trailer was literally falling apart around us," Ashley tells me.

"Yeah," Darrick interjects. "Our electric wiring was shot, there was no way to replace it, and I was really worried about my wife and kids living in such an unsafe environment," he says to me somberly. "I really had no idea what we were going to do."

But Carolyn Wires, Darrick's mother, did know. She suggested to her son and his young wife to look into the Athens County Habitat for Humanity program. Darrick attended an information session last June and filled out the necessary paperwork. The Wires were sent a packet requesting they submit additional information to be considered.

A little daunted but by no means deterred, the Wires submitted their information. "The Habitat people came out in July to take a look at our trailer, and this past September, they told us that they had selected us," Ashley says. Darrick nods.

"We were stunned," Ashley adds. Darrick nods again.

The land for the Wires home was titled to Habitat by Darrick's parents. Ground was broken in March, and in order to do so, the Wires had to move their trailer.

"That was something," Darrick says. "We had to get under it to get it up on wheels and the thing almost tipped over on us."

It has been nearly a year-long process for the Wires working with Habitat. Families who are selected for a home are required to attend classes, work with a Habitat Committee who continually assesses potential issues and difficulties, and they must put in a required amount of volunteer time.

"The Head of Household is required to volunteer 250 hours to this process," Ross explains. "That can include working on another Habitat project, working here in the office with us, and of course, putting in time during construction of the home."

Any other member of the family who will be residing in the home, and is 18 years of age, must donate 200 hours of volunteer time. "The children can even put in service toward the volunteer time by doing such things as keeping up with their homework, getting good grades, and things of that nature," Ross says.

"We decided I would be Head of Household since Darrick is a welder and has to work," Ashley says. "But I have loved every minute of my time with the Habitat people. They are amazing."

IN MID APRIL, I HAVE AN opportunity to visit the Wires building site. When I pull into the driveway, a bevy of activity, energy and lots of laughter greet me.

Confronted with many shouts of hellos and waves, I honestly just stood stock-still and tried to absorb what was happening.

"Hi, Janet Polzer, I'm with Women Raise the Roof," says Polzer energetically, as she pumps my hand with a firm shake. "Welcome. Yeah, I'm one of the bosses. You're welcome to hang out "“ oops, watch youself," she says to me, as I began to sink in the ground, soaked from the recent rain. Off she went.

"Hi," Ashley shouts out to me over the din of a buzz saw. "I told you I was going to be busy!" she says as she stacks huge flooring sheets on the ground next to the ground level of the house.

Stepping carefully through the mud, I walk around the side of the house where I see a gentleman standing, giving instruction to two women bent over a floor joist, with thick pencils and a measuring tape, earnestly listening.

They pause briefly to welcome me. Merl Almquist, site supervisor, is a retired commercial contractor who is overseeing this build. I asked him how he got involved with Habitat. "You know, I don't know," he says to me, while eyeing the women doing some kind of measuring. "But I sure am," he says with a huge smile.

He excuses himself and returns to the ladies. "All right, all right, I get it," says Carol as Merl helps her measure and mark down the stud line. A table saw buzzes again in the background. "So does the window go here or there?" Carol asks Merl. "Here," he says. "Now measure and mark."

"Hey I need a helper over here!" yells a woman at the table saw. I wander around the house toward her, trying to stay out of the way as people carry boards to and fro. I lean against a sawhorse next to the table and say hello. Nadia Mitchell comes to hold a board as the woman begins to cut.

"Hi, Sue Ellen Miller," says the woman as she shears the end of the board. "Use both names, please, or I'll have to shoot you," she says with a smile. I scoot out of the way, again, as she and Nadia carry the board away.
Polzer comes over to me and says, "Why don't you sit here and you'll be out of the way?" I sit exactly where she tells me.

"I've worked on women's builds before in New Jersey and the Carolinas," Polzer continues. "These are great women. No one has an attitude out here. You don't have to know how to build. Our only rule is, if you're not having fun out here, go home."

I furiously scribble in my note pad. This is one of the only interviews I've been on where I don't have to pepper people with questions. Polzer observes the site. "Merl is a perfectionist," Polzer says to me. "He's a kind, kind man. He keeps us all moving."

"Isn't this the most bucolic setting?" she asks as she leaves to lend a hand. And it is. It's her word. But I'm stealing it. A more bucolic setting for a home I doubt you could find. Rolling green land as far as the eyes can see.
Ashley and Darrick come over to me and we spend time chatting.

"We are so excited now the process has started," Ashely says. Darrick nods. "I've never built a house before," he says with a giant smile. "I love it. It's the greatest."

"I love it, too," Sue Ellen interjects, as she goes to slice another board. "I learn so much from Merl."

"We're shooting to be done by September," Ashley says to me. "Since we only work on the house Wednesdays and Saturdays, and you have to account for weather, it might be later."

"BREAK TIME!" Janet screams. Everyone stops what he or she is doing and move up the hill to a picnic table. "I made them cookies," Ashley says.

"Sue Ellen, stop sawing!" Janet yells.

"I will. Give me a minute!" Sue Ellen hollers back. She puts her things down and looks at me. "I love coming out here. What a treat. It's so beautiful."

The Wires talk to me for some time about their new home and dreams. "Our oldest daughter, Kelly, has Pervasive Development Disorder," Ashley says to me. "Kelly used to wander when she was younger, so we all stay in the same bedroom in the trailer. I can't tell you how excited we all are for our own bedrooms."

Polzer walks up to us. "My husband and son bought me a tool bucket last week for my birthday, want to see?" she asks. I have no chance to answer before Carol walks up and asks me to stand next to Ashley so she can take out picture.

"I post updates on our Web site twice a week as we move through the process," Carol says to me. "Just go to www.athenshabitat.org and follow the link to Women Raise the Roof. You can see all kinds of pictures."
Ashley, Darrick and I follow Carol up to the picnic table, and I sit down with the incredible crew of women. And, of course, Merl and Darrick. I listen to the women chatter and good-naturedly rib one another. Fifteen minutes later, they leave, en masse, to get back to work.

Ashley and I sit, talking some more.

"It's always been Darrick's and my dream to build on this site," Ashley says to me. "There isn't a handout here," she says.

ROSS INFORMS ME THAT Habitat for Humanity holds the mortgage to the Wires' home, and the Wires will buy it from them, at cost, with an interest-free loan. Habitat for Humanity has less than a 1 percent foreclosure rate.
Ashley pauses in thoughtful silence, watching the women. "Look at them, just look at them," she says to me. "Darrick and I are getting something out of this, and we put in our sweat equity for the place we are going to live. It means so much more to you when you work for it.

"But those women," she continues. "Look at them. They are working so hard, just to help us."

We sit together for a time in the bucolic setting. Yes, I'm using the word. Again. Ashley stands and says, "it was nice meeting you. I have to get back to work." And off she goes, blending into the activity. I sit and watch her go.

I have to say it was tough leaving the place. To be part, even as an observer, of such an outpouring of community love was a most humbling experience. The women waved and shouted their good-byes to me. They even told me I was welcome to come out and hammer nails with them. "Don't worry," Polzer says to me. "We'll show you what to do."

As I back out of the driveway, I decide that I'm going to take her up on that offer.