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Habitat considers downtown land for 25th house

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Nonprofit also seeks more volunteers

Habitat for Humanity of Mason County is eyeing empty lots in downtown Shelton to purchase and then erect the organization's 25th house for a family in need.

Construction on the single-story three-bedroom house is scheduled to begin in early spring, and is expected to take seven or eight months, said Marty Crow, the nonprofit organization's executive director.

The group is seeking volunteers, "whoever is motivated to help us," Crow said. The organization can certainly use volunteers who can swing a hammer and have skills in construction and remodeling, he said.

Construction volunteers must be at least 16 years old to work at the home sites.

The organization also welcomes donations of snacks and lunches for volunteers.

Volunteer applications can be picked up at the Habitat stores in Shelton and Belfair. The stores are open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Electronic applications also are available by contacting volunteer coordinator Kathleen Hunter at 426-8134, ext. 204, or at kathleenh@habitatmasonwa.org.

For more information about the group, call 426-8134 or go to www.habitatmasonwa.org.

The group recently dedicated its 24th house, a three-bedroom home in the Shorecrest neighborhood. The next house will be about the same size — 1,000 square feet — and also feature three bedrooms, Crow said.

For house No. 26, the organization plans to rehabilitate an existing structure for the first time, Crow said. House No. 27 will be the group's first multi-unit complex, a duplex or condos, he said.

Three families have been selected to be the recipients of the next three houses, Crow said.

They have the option to pass on the next structure based on location, size or other considerations, and wait for the next unit, he said.

David Brown has volunteered his talents with the group since 2004, when he moved to Shelton.

"I just wanted to pound nails," said Brown, who retired from careers with the U.S. Navy and Sears in 2002.

Brown has worked on the group's last 16 houses. His specialties include running the flexible water pipes through the house.

Brown also seeks bids and buys parts for the houses; he helped establish the Habitat store in Shelton.

Most of his fellow volunteers are in their 70s, Brown said.

"It's a camaraderie group," he said.

The most enjoyable aspect is "the final result of putting them in the house and giving them the key — that's the best part," Brown said.

Habitat for Humanity of Mason County, founded in 1996, is a faith-based housing ministry that partners with the community to improve, maintain and build affordable quality housing for people in need.

Habitat for Humanity reports it has more then 1,400 affiliates in the United States and 70 national organizations around the world.

The organization has helped 6.8 million people improve their living conditions since its founding in 1976.



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