Groups fulfils home dreams

By Melissa Meehan
DANDENONG’S Andrew and Naomi Bazeley can’t wait to move into their new home.
Both had despaired about being able to afford to buy a house for their three children but with the help of philanthropic organisation Habitat for Humanity (HfH) the couple can now fulfil their dreams.
HfH provides safe and comfortable accommodation for families in need.
The couple and their three children will receive their “hand up – not hand out” in time for Christmas.
HfH is a non-profit, Christian-based organisation seeking to make simple, safe, decent and affordable housing available to families in need.
Founded in Australia in 1987, local HfH chapters build new houses using as much volunteer labour and donated new materials as possible.
Volunteer Gillian Farrell said families paid a $500 deposit up-front and were then provided with a ‘no interest’ loan.
“That loan is then repaid by the new owners at a maximum of 25% of family income,” she said.
“Families are selected without discrimination based on their need for housing.”
She said every Saturday since the time construction commenced on ‘their’ house; Andrew and Naomi have worked as general labourers, painters, landscape gardeners or tradesman’s assistants.
“This partly because of their high motivation, but also because of their contract with HfH included the requirement that all house recipients must contribute at least 500 hours of volunteer labour, their ‘sweat equity’.”