The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Sisters Habitat for Humanity has a new construction manager to lead its crews of volunteer builders.

Alex Weiss, of Sisters, took over the position last week, succeeding longtime building leader Woodie Woodsum, who has moved on to Alaska to pursue humanitarian work.

Weiss said he saw an advertisement for the position in The Nugget and decided to throw his hat in the ring.

"I've been a finish carpenter for a long time, but business is down," he said. "I saw that (ad) and thought, 'why not.'"

Weiss is responsible for running the entire building program - sourcing out materials, planning work and, perhaps most importantly, recruiting, organizing and leading volunteers.

Weiss said that local Habitat volunteers "have vast amounts of enthusiasm." He said that leading a volunteer crew is different from regular construction work in that involvement fluctuates from day to day as volunteers serve when their schedule permits.

One day, there can be a big crew on hand, the next just a handful.

"This is a whole different thing," Weiss said. "This is responding to who shows up every day."

The current project is construction of Hammond Place, on East Cascade Avenue just east of Sisters Elementary School. The complex consists of two two-unit townhomes and one single-family house, with room for five families. The development is named for Hort and Julia Hammond, founders of the Sisters Chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

Sisters Habitat for Humanity is currently seeking applications from families. Curiously, the economic downturn has actually reduced the number of families in line for Habitat homes.

Some applications have been rejected because of too much debt. Habitat offers debt counseling to help families figure out how to reduce their load to a qualifying level.

"We've had families do that and come back to us," executive director Sharlene Weed said.

Weed says that one reason for the drought of applicants is a bad job market. Some families are not sure they will be able to stay in Sisters.

The recession has not damaged Sisters Habitat's financial situation.

"Last fiscal year our donations were steady," Weed reported. "We did see a stronger dip than usual in the (thrift) stores in the winter months, but they've picked back up."

Granting foundations have taken a hit in their portfolios, and that is expected to tighten up the flow of grant funds, but so far that hasn't been apparent.

"We're not real reliant on grant income anyway," Weed said. "We try for those, but it's not make-or-break for the organization."

The recession has brought land prices down in Sisters, but that hasn't helped the local chapter because they are trying to pay down debt incurred to develop Hammond Place.

"Hopefully within a year we'll be able to take advantage of the reduced cost of land," Weed said.

The organization may be able to tap federal Neighborhood Stabilization Funds, which are directed toward the purchase of foreclosed properties.

Weed said she is "working to make sure we're at the table for those discussions."

For more information on Sisters Habitat for Humanity, call 549-1193.