Habitat For Humanity moves new home

A moving crew brought Habitat Home No. 28 to the homesite. photo by Jim Mitchell In the early Saturday morning hours, Sisters Habitat for Humanity house number 28 moved across town from the former Relco Tank Line site on Highway 20 (next to Mtn. Shadow RV Park) into its new home on Maple Lane.

Constructed in the 1970s, the house was an office for Relco for a number of years. With the closing of that company and plans to develop the land, Relco owners donated the building to Sisters Habitat for Humanity.

The building will require some remodeling to fit its new family. A kitchen will be added and bathroom revisions will be necessary. Although the costs will be about the same as building from the ground up, the lead time until occupancy will be shorter.

The move was uneventful. Only one sign had to be removed -- the "Stop" sign at the tight corner of Locust St. and Black Butte Ave. Because of the lack of drive-out space, the tow truck had to park the building at the edge of the lot.

Bob Harris, in a masterful display of backhoe work, finished maneuvering the building into its predetermined space, much of the time from the other side of the neighboring fence.

Sharlene Weed, Executive Director of Sisters Habitat, emphasized that Habitat for Humanity "is not a give -away program. Loans are made by Habitat to the new owners for 30-year terms with no interest. The mortgage payments then go back into the Habitat fund for further housing."

In addition, homeowners invest several hundred hours of their own labor -- called "sweat equity" -- into building their Habitat house and the houses of others.

Weed also sits on a committee for Habitat International that is doing an analysis of rural affiliates. She added, "International is launching a rural initiative. They want to help rural affiliates. We are doing an analysis of affiliates to see where strong points exist, where gaps exist. Sisters is one of the strongest rural affiliates in the country."

The goal for Sisters Habitat is to put four families a year into new houses. Regarding this latest house, Weed added, "We are grateful to the donors for giving Habitat this opportunity to help another family this year."

Don and Diana Harris and children Jessie (nine) and Collin (three) are the recipients of this latest Habitat dwelling. Don looks forward to raising his children and,ultimately retiring in the Sisters area. As the house was jockeyed into place he commented, "Living here and working for the schools for the last three years, I am amazed at the community involvement that we have here."

The day following the move, Habitat officers and volunteers joined the Harris family in breaking ground for the project. Standing with the Harrises were their "Family Partners" Eloise Barry and Lupe Chamberlain. Family Partners guide families through the process of becoming new homeowners.

Diana Harris expressed the thanks of the family for the success of the project so far and concluded, "We are grateful to be here today."

Following a blessing by Jim Wysong, each family member turned a shovelful of dirt.

Even three-year old Collin took his turn ­ and was still digging when the ceremony was over.