Home, sweet home

BY ALLISON COLLINS FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE

PLAINVILLE - Dave Bishop used to live in a small apartment in town where he didn't even have a bed. "I had to sacrifice and have a couch," he said.

When Bishop heard about the opportunity to apply for an Old Colony Habitat for Humanity home, he just went for it, he said. And in May 2008, he was selected as a recipient. "I didn't think I had a chanceit's like winning the lottery," he said.

On Saturday, Old Colony Habitat for Humanity volunteers and family members gathered at the new house at 4 Zeller Ave. for the dedication ceremony to the Bishop family. Over a dozen people turned out.

"Today we're going to celebrate the transition of what was a house, to a home," Chuck Dean, the vice president of Old Colony Habitat for Humanity's Executive Committee. State Rep. Richard Ross, R-Wrentham, spoke to what a good dad Bishop appeared to be. During the ceremony the Bishop family was presented with a set of plates and some frozen meals from Dream Dinners. The family and volunteers dug a hole to plant an oak tree.

Bishop, who grew up on Pleasant Street, where his parents still live, is excited to be able to do the simple things in life - like mow the lawn. His daughters are excited to have birthday parties with more than three people and to have sleepovers at the house. Bishop is a single dad with four kids: Tyler, 18, Amanda, 15, Haley, 12 and Mackenzie, 7. His kids really love the new place because it's bigger so they have more space.

His girls called him a "mom-dad" because he always took care of them and braided their hair when they were younger. The best part of the new house, Amanda said, is "not being embarrassed." Haley "loves it." Bishop has been living in the house since December and helping with projects around the property and other Old Colony Habitat for Humanity projects. "The entire time he had been demonstrating what we were looking for," said Janet Rigdon, secretary of the executive committee.

Bishop will have to put 250 "sweat equity" hours into the home and various other things. He has already begun those hours. "We've been doing work here and there a little at a time," he said.

Bishop has a 30-year, no interest mortgage owned by Old Colony Habitat for Humanity. This gives the family a chance to save or pay off any debt they may have, Rigdon said. Whirlpool donates a refrigerator and stove to each Habitat for Humanity home. "We all do our labor for free," Rigdon said of the volunteers.

The three bedroom, one bathroom home is about 1,100 square feet, according to Rigdon, and has a floor plan conducive to family life with the living room and kitchen next to each other and the bedrooms in a different part of the house.

"We pick a home design that we hope is family-friendly," Rigdon said.

The home was built in 2006. Previously, another person lived in it but relocated because of their job.

This home is Old Colony Habitat for Humanity's seventh finished project in the area. They have completed three homes in Norton, according to Rigdon, and a three-unit condo in Attleboro. Rigdon said the goal is to have houses completed in 18-20 work weeks.

The town of Plainville donated the property, which was originally covered in rocks and trees.

"If was completely covered with dirt and trees," Rigdon said. "It looks a lot different now," she said. The home cost about $130,000, Rigdon said, but was appraised for over $200,000.

"Our biggest thing is that we want it to be a hand up, not a hand out," Rigdon said.

The organization asks the people they help to continue to be involved with them after they move into their new homes.

Old Colony Habitat for Humanity will stay in touch with Bishop and offer him support for budgeting and other things, Rigdon said. The organization offers workshops for new homeowners where they can learn about fire safety, security and other things home ownership involves. They can take workshops "just to know how to do things in the house," Rigdon said. The workshops are tailored to the needs of the families, she said.

People looking to move into an Old Colony Habitat for Humanity home must meet three criteria: Have a need for adequate shelter, have the ability to pay a zero-interest, zero-profit mortgage, and show the willingness to partner with Old Colony Habitat for Humanity. The last one includes actively filling out forms, engaging in home visits, and participating in the organization's functions, among other things.

See our Photo Gallery for pictures of the event