Habitat for Humanity Northwest Connecticut has been working since 1991 to offset that effect by building affordable homes for families who need them. To date, seven homes have been constructed in the six towns the Habitat chapter serves and an eighth is well underway, with completion expected this year.
The eighth house, currently under construction on River Road in Falls Village, has been assigned to "partner family," of Jennifer Shipper and John Clouser, and their two children, Kaitlyn and Megan. "We've almost finished the siding," said John Pogue, one of the founders of the local Habitat affiliate. "We're pretty much on schedule, completion this year. The family has been working very diligently, putting in the 400 hours of sweat equity we require and their friends have been helping, too."
Most of the labor for Habitat homes is donated, and individuals and corporate donors provide many of the materials to build them. Volunteers include local electricians, plumbers and builders, but also doctors, lawyers, office workers, students from schools in the areas, and others who want to help out-and like to swing a hammer.
Houses are sold to partner families at Habitat's cost to build, with a no-interest mortgage. The mortgage payments help to build other houses. The last home, with three bedrooms, two baths and a back landing, was sold to a family with three children. To be eligible, a family must earn less than 60 percent of the median income for Litchfield County. For 2008, the maximum income for a family of four was $50,400.
Mr. Pogue said the eighth house is the last one scheduled for the tract of land Habitat owns in Falls Village. We're trying to spread our footprint into some of the other six towns we serve," he said, adding ruefully that no land has ever been donated in Sharon, Canaan or Norfolk. "The [slumping] real estate market may help us," he said hopefully, but then added that in recent years "There seems to be more caution and less altruism out there. It's a little on the discouraging on side. We do have leftover land in Falls Village, but we have already built four houses there."
Other houses have been built in the towns of Salisbury and Cornwall. Some 24 children have found secure homes in the well-made houses their parents might not otherwise be able to own.
"Our homes mean that many children will have a secure roof over their heads and a future in our area. These are the kids who will become the local leaders, the volunteers and the labor pool that keep our communities going," said Mr. Pogue.
To benefit these kids, and the youngsters of the future who will live in Habitat homes, the organization is holding a Wine Tasting and Auction on Saturday, July 11, on the lawn at the home of Elyse and John Harney, at 11 East Main Street in Salisbury. Time is from 5:30 until 8 p.m.
Up for bids, among other things, will be: a hand-made Victorian Doll House; a week at a five-bedroom ski house in Deer Valley, Utah-number-one ski area in the country according to Ski magazine; another week at an ocean-front cottage in County Cork on Ireland's beautiful southern coast, Tristan and Isolde, a sculpture by artist Ken Memoli, and a two-week stay at rustic Camp Sloane on Lake Wononpakook.
More than 60 items will be up for auction, some big, some small. In addition to the items already mentioned, there will be 25 pounds of grass-fed lamb from Sam Waterston's farm, a catered dinner for eight, a tour of the State Capitol and lunch with state Rep. Roberta Willis, baskets of flowers and lilies from local nurseries, a very special bottle of wine from the cellars of a local collector, sterling silver napkin rings, and rounds of golf at the Hotchkiss School golf course.
Auctioneer Brian Ross of ABC News will conduct the sale.
A "Wine Reck", an original wine rack created by kinetic sculptor Tim Prentice from found materials will also be raffled off.
All the proceeds from the wine tasting and auction go directly toward Habitat's mission. Wines for the tasting are selected by Fred Tregaskis, a prominent wine expert and writer, and owner of New England Wine Cellars in Falls Village and by Little Gates, wine merchants in Millerton, N.Y. Choices will range from hearty reds, to dry whites, to luscious dessert wines. There will be a selection of Harney teas. Hors d'oeuvres and finger foods from local restaurants will also be served.
Music for the event will be provided by the Louise Baranger Trio. Ms. Baranger, whose instrument is the trumpet, is a faculty member at the Litchfield Jazz Camp. She has played with the late, great Harry James and has performed for two United States Presidents, William Jefferson Clinton and the second George Bush.
Corporate sponsors at the Gold Medal level are the Litchfield County Board of Realtors, New England Wine Cellars and Salisbury Bank and Trust. At the Silver Medal level they are, BD, Bicron Electronics, John Harney Associates, The Hotchkiss School, C.A. Lindell &Son, Litchfield Bancorp, and Webster Bank .
Tickets are $25 each and may be purchased at the door. For more information, contact Habitat For Humanity at 860-435-4747, or habitatnwct.org.