Making a Habitat house a home

Peggy Dorsett (right), Christopher Dorsett, and neighbor Cody Knowles

enjoy Dorsett's new home.

It has been a long and often arduous journey, but Peggy Dorsett has finally found herself a home.

In September, Dorsett and her 11 year-old son, Christopher, moved into the newest Habitat dwelling, located at the corner of Cedar and Ash Streets.

"I love it! This place is just incredible," said Dorsett, referring to her new two story, three bedroom townhouse. "I still can't believe it's mine and I don't have to move again."

Since Dorsett moved here with her family from Southern California in 1988, finding affordable and adequate housing has posed a problem.

The Dorsett's first took up residence at The Pines, in a tiny, dilapidated house.

"You could see the daylight through the walls," recalled Dorsett.

She was offered a more suitable residence in town a few years later, but the mobile home they were renting sold after only a year and a half. The housing scramble started again.

"It was at that time that I put in an application for a Habitat House," said Dorsett.

She, along with her two children and a roommate, then took up temporary lodgings at a house in Crossroads. At that time she became discouraged with some difficulties she experienced with the application process and withdrew her name.

"The Habitat folks just kept nagging me to re-apply," said Dorsett, "so I finally gave in and submitted my name again. The process went much more smoothly and quickly the second time around."

While waiting for her house to be built, Dorsett and her children had to move two additional times.

"We lived on five acres in Redmond for a while," said Dorsett. "The commute was terrible. Then we found a double wide mobile home back in Sisters, but the rent was more than I could afford."

Dorsett was so eager to move into her Habitat House, that she put in her required "sweat equity" hours in just 10 months.

"It usually takes one to two years to make up your hours," explained Dorsett. "In the beginning, I wondered where I would find the time to come and work, but I always managed somehow.

"When I worked at Sisters Video, I could watch them working on the house every day," she said. "That really motivated me to get out and work, too."

Dorsett's favorite "sweat equity" contribution was actually working on the house.

"I loved being out there, pounding nails," she said. "I'd be out there with the work crew, snow coming down, putting on the roof. It was great!"

Dorsett got a kick out of working with the college students from Alaska and Stanford University, who gave up their spring breaks to come and help build her house.

She is also grateful to the many community volunteers who provided muscle, materials, support -- and home baked cookies.

"I have been overwhelmed by the support I've received," Dorsett said. "In all my life, I don't think I've ever felt so loved and appreciated. What a wonderful experience!"

Dorsett would also like to express her thanks to Habitat for Humanity, adding that she never experienced anything but love and generosity from that organization.

"I'm going to be out there, helping build the next house," she said. "I want to give back what has been given to me."

While the house is finished, there is landscaping work still to be done.

To volunteer time or materials for Habitat projects, call Habitat director Sharlene Weed at 549-1193.