BRIDGEPORT – Stratford Avenue in the city’s East End has two more homeowners thanks to Habitat for Humanity, Steven Finkelstein and Irving Cohen. And, there’s more where that came from, according to Habitat CEO Carolyn Vermont.
“We do have other homes in the pipeline,” Vermont said at the dedication of the homes at 1096 and 1102 Stratford Ave. “We have one on Holly Street and another on Park Street. We have four in Fairfield that won’t be ready until next year. And we have 14 more in Fairfield. They are also on land that was donated.”
Mayor Joe Ganim and City Councilmember Anita Martinez, who were present at a dedication of the homes on Saturday, Oct. 26, reiterated the success of the Habitat program and hope it continues to improve the housing stock in Bridgeport for low-income residents.
“I want Carolyn to help lead our endeavor to create 6,000 new houses in Connecticut by 2030,” Ganim said. “That’s 1,000 a year. That’s a lot. We have a lot of good things in the pipeline due to Habitat.”
Martinez added that any property owners in Bridgeport who have blighted property to consider donating them to Habitat.
“If there are lots that are blighted in Bridgeport, please turn them over to Habitat for Humanity,” Martinez said. “Individuals can build and live affordably by spending thousands of hours building their home.”
The two-family Stratford Avenue property, which has two separate addresses, will be the home of Olivene Blake and her family and Leslie Arrington, Wayne Mitchell and their family.
After improvements were made to the home, it was appraised this year at $328,308, according to city records. The improvements reflect $292,850 of the total value and the land itself is appraised at $35,458. Each home includes four bedrooms and two bathrooms.
The property was donated by ISRE LLC to Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County in 2021.
“It’s about a year-long process,” Vermont said in describing the Habitat for Humanity homeowner program. “Once they are accepted, they have to spend at least 200 hours (on the home). They can get family and friends to assist, but they have to put in what we call partnership equity hours. We feel it’s great to have the invested in their property and work alongside our staff and volunteers.”
Additionally, the homeowners receive an interest-free 30-year mortgage through Habitat sponsors Connecticut Housing Finance Authority and JP Morgan Chase & Co. There is no down payment and monthly payments can never exceed more than 30% of their household income, according to Vermont.
As for the value of most of the homes, Vermont said they are usually almost double the amount of the mortgage. “The highest is about $180,000 for one home,” she said. “These homes have been valued for more than $300,000.”
For the homeowners, the chance at owning a home for the price of paying rent and not having to be at the mercy of a landlord is something they cherish.
“This is truly a milestone and a life-changing opportunity for me and my family,” said Blake. “My children and I are very excited about moving into our new beautiful house. We are anticipating the privilege of making it our home, sweet home. Owning my home will definitely create a positive change in my life. Most of all, it will give me peace of mind, stability and a great sense of accomplishment.”
For Blake, apartment living in Connecticut has not been a pleasant process.
“The whole process of finding a place to rent has always been a headache and major negative input on me and my children’s life,” Blake said. “It has also been a frustrating journey when moving. Today, I proudly say thanks to Habitat for putting an end to my moving around.”
Her most recent living conditions in an apartment was one that nightmares are made of, she said.
“It was a devastating and depressing experience,” she said. “The living conditions were very poor, very bad. We were living in a house that leaked every time it rains. The landlord never cared about fixing the problem. Every single year, a section of the roof would come down on my living room.”
She credits the work of a fire marshal, who she called Mr. Gonzalez, for steering her towards Habitat. After he showed up to her apartment to issue a violation to the apartment owner, he gave her a phone number to call. It was the local Habitat for Humanity office.
For Mitchell, the opportunity to live in his own home with Arrington and their family was unreal.
“I am from the Bronx,” Mitchell said. “I am from the projects. I live on the 11th floor with my grandmother. To move to Bridgeport with a home is crazy. Me and twin nephews, we are from the Bronx. We don’t know anything about houses. We know apartments and the hard floors. I was so happy that we did it.”
Finkelstein, one of the two property donors, was gracious to have the chance to help out families in need of proper shelter. He talked about a moment that inspired him to always think about giving to others.
“About 50 years ago it was a winter day in New Jersey, I was in the back of the car with my father and he swerved,” Finkelstein said. “My dad had swerved and pulled over. An older lady had fallen in the snow. My dad helped her get her up her driveway and into her house. No words were exchanged.”
His dad, who died many years in his 40s, inspired him and Cohen to donate the property to Habitat.
“I miss him often,” he said. “I think of that winter day and what he did. It influenced me and that was his gift to me. I hope someone some day will see what has happened here today and do a mitzvah, as we Jewish people call it, a good deed.”
In a monument he gave to the families that is now on their front yard, it reads: “Love your neighbor as thyself (Torah Leviticus 19:18). Together we shall heal the world.”
