Participating in the groundbreaking, from left: Essex County Habitat for Humanity Board of Director’s member and Haverhill resident Pati Fernandez; board chair for Habitat for Humanity, Richard Sumberg; Haverhill Mayor Melinda Barrett; Essex County Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Meegan O’Neil and Nik Orellana, legislative aid for State Rep. Andy Vargas, D-Haverhill.
Carl Russo/Staff photo
July 4, 2024 – The Haverhill Gazette
The lives of two families will change dramatically when they move into a new duplex planned for the city by Essex County Habitat for Humanity.
The nonprofit housing organization broke ground on June 27 for an affordable homeownership project.
Habitat’s project is a duplex home at 41-43 Curtiss St., a dead-end located in the city’s Mt. Washington neighborhood. The currently tree- and brush-filled 1-acre lot is just up the hill from the commuter rail station.
When complete, the duplex will provide a more stable foundation on which to build a stronger future for two, hard-working families, Habitat officials said.
Guests at the ground-breaking included Haverhill Mayor Melinda Barrett; Nik Orellana, legislative aide for State Rep. Andy Vargas, D-Haverhill; Habitat Family Selection Committee Co-Chair Pati Fernandez; Essex County Habitat for Humanity Board Chair Richard Sumberg and Executive Director Meegan O’Neil.
“We are happy to be back in Haverhill again,” O’Neil announced. “We really think that Haverhill is an important city for us to be working in. We have several other projects in the pipeline in Haverhill as well and we’re excited to build these two homes here.”
O’Neil thanked those who have given their financial support as well as those who offered their professional services pro-bono to get the project started, spurring an impromptu commitment from IBEW Local 103 to do the electrical work pro-bono as well.
“It truly takes a community to make this work possible,” O’Neil commented.
Fernandez, a Haverhill resident and Habitat Family Selection Committee co-chair explained that the average, single-family home price has reached $900,000 in greater Boston, making homeownership even more out of reach for low-income residents who often hold down two jobs while trying to raise a family.
“What we’re creating here is an opportunity to give someone their independence to partner with them in dignified way within our own community and keep our people in our own community,” she said. “People are leaving Massachusetts because they can’t afford to live here.”
Mayor Barrett praised Habitat for Humanity for giving people the opportunity to live the American dream.
“That’s how we build generational wealth and stability in our community,” she said. “The fact there are organizations like Habitat for Humanity and Bread & Roses that do projects like this really make an impact for our citizens and our community. We are very lucky to have them.”
Orellana presented a citation from the House of Representatives to Habitat for Humanity in recognition of the groundbreaking and its continued support of ownership opportunities across Essex County.
Andrew Herlihy, division director for the city’s Community Development Department, said the city committed $90,000 in HOME funds to the project.
HOME is the largest federal block grant to state and local governments designed exclusively to create affordable housing for low-income households.
“One of the two units, at least, is guaranteed for a Haverhill resident,” Herlihy said. “Maybe both if they win the lottery.”
Owners of the new home will be chosen based on income qualifications. They also must be a first-time homebuyer and be willing to partner with Habitat. Their names will be drawn during a lottery planned for October. Habitat officials said the homes will be sold to the lottery winners at a price that is below the cost to build.
For information about the lottery, visit online at EssexCountyHabitat.org/homeownership. A lottery information session is at 6 p.m. on July 18 at the Haverhill Public Library.