Dreams fulfilled: Steuben Habitat for Humanity caps construction, delivers new homes

Faith Southard and Bill Dugan feel Steuben County Habitat for Humanity volunteers, aided by local businesses and donors, poured their heart out to them in helping realize the dream of homeownership.

Joy Overacker, Habitat community outreach director, said Southard and Dugan will each call one side of a new duplex, located at 3453 and 3455 Hornby Road in the Town of Corning, home.

“Bill waited for this moment a long time. The past four years,” Overacker said. “And I don’t think Faith believed it was going to happen until like last week when she got the mortgage commitment letter. At which point she started crying.”

Southard agreed.

“I’m still crying,” Southard said with a smile at last Friday’s dedication event.

Alison Hunt, president of Steuben County Habitat for Humanity, called the dedication event an exciting day for not only the families that are impacted by this new home, but also for Habitat as a whole.

“As many know we had a fire at our ReStore last year and this is our first home dedication since that fire,” Hunt said. “This is our first big announcement since that fire, and we are so excited to be back up and running.”

“We are celebrating the spirit of community, compassion and hope that has built this home from the ground up,” Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Steve Daniels said at the dedication. “The key word here is hope.”

Adversities delayed work at Hornby Road property

Daniels said the property was donated to Steuben County Habitat of Humanity in 2020.

“Originally we planned to do a blitz build at the site,” Daniels said. “That’s where a group of what we call road crazies come in and pretty much build the house in a weekend. Unfortunately, due to COVID that got canceled.”

Habitat for Humanity later found out the existing home at the site needed to be removed after asbestos was detected, Daniels said. A variance was then needed from the Corning Town Planning Board for a duplex to be built at the site.

Daniels said a new septic system needed to be installed at the site because the original system did not meet code.

All of these issues led to further delays, as did supply chain issues and an increase in material costs.

“Then the fire at the ReStore happened,” Daniels said. “This meant that the ReStore funds that would normally go into building the homes were no longer available, which led to a reduction of staff and put a lot of stress on everybody involved. But with a tremendous amount of support from the community, we were able to find hope and drive to complete the home. This dedication is a significant milestone in the journey of Steuben County Habitat for Humanity.”

Hunt said the Habitat for Humanity mission is increasing homeownership in Steuben County.

“We are very active in the community,” Hunt said. “Most people know our ReStore, but what it really comes down to is making affordable homes available to people who are in need, that put in the work, the time.”

Owners are now members of Habitat family

Daniels told the new homeowners at the dedication event to remember as they walk through these doors, they are not alone.

“You are part of a larger community now that stands behind you,” Daniels said. "You are part of the Habitat family, and we are ready to support you every step of the way."

Southard, who hopes to move into her duplex in April, called Habitat for Humanity a wonderful organization.

“I couldn't be happier, I really couldn’t,” Southard said.

“I love the fresh air and the beautiful view of the woods,” said Dugan, moments after walking into his duplex. “It’s just a nice spot. It’s wonderful to be able to be here.”

More: Steuben Habitat for Humanity ReStore draws closer to reopening after devastating fire

Volunteers helped make new homes a reality

Daniels thanked the people that helped make the high efficiency home a reality, including volunteers and the homeowners.

“I want to give a huge shout out and thank you to all the volunteers who worked to keep this project moving forward,” Daniels said. “Especially to our regular build crew members. They made it possible for our partner families to realize the dream of home ownership. Let these houses be a place of warmth, safety and joy.”

Daniels also gave special thanks to Isaac Heating & Air, Community Foundation of Elmira/Corning, Home Depot, Franzese Disposal, Corning Rotary, Arbor Housing and Development and all donors.

Hunt said Habitat homeowners have equity and there is also a mortgage involved just like everybody else that's a homeowner.

Brian S. Murray, State Director for USDA Rural Development, thanked the owners who worked on the duplex home to make it a reality, along with the help and support of Habitat for Humanity and many volunteers and friends.

“Your two families have a partnership that in many ways Rural Development and Habitat have together,” Murray said. “Our agencies came together on a common project, to help families attain their dream of homeownership, and together we make it happen.”

This article originally appeared on The Leader: Steuben Habitat for Humanity caps Corning construction, delivers homes