Jimmy Cahtah's pride and joy falling apart

[jimpeel]

It seems that Habitat For Humanity homes are not fit for human habitation.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article5439388.ece

From The Sunday Times
January 4, 2009

Charity homes built by Hollywood start to crumble
John Harlow in Los Angeles

RESIDENTS of a model housing estate bankrolled by Hollywood celebrities and hand-built by Jimmy Carter, the former US president, are complaining that it is falling apart.

Fairway Oaks was built on northern Florida wasteland by 10,000 volunteers, including Carter, in a record 17-day “blitz” organised by the charity Habitat for Humanity.

Eight years later it is better known for cockroaches, mildew and mysterious skin rashes.

A forthcoming legal battle over Fairway Oaks threatens the reputation of a charity envied for the calibre of its celebrity supporters, who range from Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt to Colin Firth, Christian Bale and Helena Bonham Carter.

The case could challenge the bedrock philosophy behind Habitat for Humanity, claiming that using volunteers, rather than professional builders, is causing as many problems as it solves.

April Charney, a lawyer representing many of the 85 homeowners in Fairway Oaks, said she had no problems taking on Habitat for Humanity, despite its status as a “darling of liberal social activists”. She said the charity should have told people that part of the estate had been built on a rubbish dump.

One man pulled up his floorboards to find rubbish 5ft deep under his kitchen. Other complaints include cracking walls and rotting door frames that let in rats and ants. Many residents have complained of mildew and mysterious skin rashes.

One resident said her children were suffering from skin complaints. “The intentions are good, but when the politicians and big-shot stars have left we’re stuck with the consequences. This house looks pretty but inside it either stinks or sweats,” she said.

Judy Hall, the charity’s local development director, said recently that it had been dealing with about 30 complaints. She added that skilled work was carried out by professionals.

Some residents dismiss their neighbours’ worries. Diennal Fields, 51, said people did not know how to look after their homes: “It’s simple stuff: if there is mildew, don’t get a lawyer, get a bottle of bleach.”

 

[Inkara1]

Strangely enough, the Habitat homes over here seem to have fewer problems than professionally-built homes. I don't agree with Spike on many things, but God damn, you really do make it too easy for him.

Also, it should be mentioned that the people moving into Habitat homes have to put a shitload of sweat equity into said homes. The claim of pulling up floorboards and finding five feet of trash sets off my bullshit-o-meter and it should set off that of anyone with any familiarity with the program, or how a house is built, or common building codes.

 

[chcr]

I've participated in nine habitat for humanity home projects (so far). It's a very successful project here and I'm proud to be a part of it.

 

[H2O boy]

i too have lent some muscle to habitat projects. the work done was first rate and well organized

i think the problem here might be this:

built on northern Florida wasteland by 10,000 volunteers, including Carter, in a record 17-day “blitz”

anyone who has gone through the process of building (or hiring the build of) a home knows corners can get cut. now multiply that by however many homes were built, and add an exponent for the ratio between normal construction time and 17 days, and you are bound to arrive where these homes are

having said that, i will add one other observation i made from the article. cockroaches are not a building function. they live on filth. a 40 million dollar home will have them if the house is not cleaned or if the owners brought them from the previous abode. so that little party favor falls on the people who live in the houses.

 

[catocom]

It has done good here, and I have participated.
Nothing has 100% effectiveness when it come to unknown variables, but
over all, this IS one of the few thing carter did/doing right.

 

[nalani]

Strangely enough, the Habitat homes over here seem to have fewer problems than professionally-built homes. I don't agree with Spike on many things, but God damn, you really do make it too easy for him.

Also, it should be mentioned that the people moving into Habitat homes have to put a shitload of sweat equity into said homes. The claim of pulling up floorboards and finding five feet of trash sets off my bullshit-o-meter and it should set off that of anyone with any familiarity with the program, or how a house is built, or common building codes.

I completely agree. I've participated with a friend of mine in building her HFH Home and it was a long, arduous process but well worth it. Her home is simple, beautiful and well-made.

You know, Jim .. you may want to invest in a small piece of vocabulary usage. For example, using the words "some", "a certain amount", "this particular project" rather than blatantly saying, "It seems that Habitat For Humanity homes are not fit for human habitation" that carries that connotation that all HFH homes aren't fit, may be useful. You really do make it too easy for spike and others to ridicule you but aside from that, as a person who's helped on such projects, it's offending to my person and though I can't speak for Inky, that's what I get from his post as well.

 

[Gonz]

Also, it should be mentioned that the people moving into Habitat homes have to put a shitload of sweat equity into said homes.

The three people that I know that are in thee homes put in ZERO sweat equity. They were supposed to, but they found excuses each time.

Since it's a privately funded group, wtf, it's a wonderful idea & a nice notion. However, again, the three I know were just playing it up to get someting for free (or next to it).

Color me jaded but I live among the poor. They piss me off.

 

[spike]

You know, Jim .. you may want to invest in a small piece of vocabulary usage. For example, using the words "some", "a certain amount", "this particular project" rather than blatantly saying, "It seems that Habitat For Humanity homes are not fit for human habitation" that carries that connotation that all HFH homes aren't fit, may be useful. You really do make it too easy for spike and others to ridicule you.

 

[2minkey]

Color me jaded but I live among the poor. They piss me off.

yeah. but affluent people can be really irritating too.

 

[Cerise]

Snort! I can't look at this title without thinking of catarrhal. Gross!

 

[Gonz]

yeah. but affluent people can be really irritating too.

Absolutely. At least they get up in the morning & go to work.

 

[chcr]

The three people that I know that are in thee homes put in ZERO sweat equity. They were supposed to, but they found excuses each time.

Since it's a privately funded group, wtf, it's a wonderful idea & a nice notion. However, again, the three I know were just playing it up to get someting for free (or next to it).

Color me jaded but I live among the poor. They piss me off.

All three, huh?

All the ones I've worked on the eventual homeowners put in a lot of work. They also did not receive their homes for "free" although they certainly received assistance.

 

[jimpeel]

I completely agree. I've participated with a friend of mine in building her HFH Home and it was a long, arduous process but well worth it. Her home is simple, beautiful and well-made.

You know, Jim .. you may want to invest in a small piece of vocabulary usage. For example, using the words "some", "a certain amount", "this particular project" rather than blatantly saying, "It seems that Habitat For Humanity homes are not fit for human habitation" that carries that connotation that all HFH homes aren't fit, may be useful. You really do make it too easy for spike and others to ridicule you but aside from that, as a person who's helped on such projects, it's offending to my person and though I can't speak for Inky, that's what I get from his post as well.

Fine.

It seems that a certain amount of the homes in this particular project are not fit for human habitation; which leads one to ponder how many other homes built by this socialistic undertaking may be similarly lacking in good workmanship and material standards.

There. Is that better?

 

[Inkara1]

How's it socialistic if it's privately funded and takes no government funding? Isn't a private program to help the poor exactly what you would want to see instead of welfare? Sort of like a church helping out one of its own members.

 

[nalani]

The three people that I know that are in thee homes put in ZERO sweat equity. They were supposed to, but they found excuses each time.

Since it's a privately funded group, wtf, it's a wonderful idea & a nice notion. However, again, the three I know were just playing it up to get someting for free (or next to it).

Color me jaded but I live among the poor. They piss me off.

Really? That's really strange - perhaps the set up over there differs that much greatly than the projects here. Recipients MUST put in a certain amount of work and it has to be signed off by the contractor, plus they have to help on other homes as well. Of course, one of my friends' homes took almost 2 years to complete because it can be a slow process when you're doing things yourself (along with a few other HFH Home Owners). That friend purchased her home for around $100k - pretty cheap for around here. The 'catch' is that they don't own the land and can't sell it. The land is donated to HFH but I'm not sure about the details of those arrangements.

 

[MrBishop]

Fine.

It seems that a certain amount of the homes in this particular project are not fit for human habitation; which leads one to ponder how many other homes built by this socialistic undertaking may be similarly lacking in good workmanship and material standards.

There. Is that better?

Off hand, I'd have to say an equal percentage of 'professionally' built homes fall under teh same standards.

I don't know the exact stats, but during recent renovations in my own house, I've found that some things were above standard, some equal..and a frightening amount below-par. Electrical work continues to be a pain, as well as basement flooring which is built on 2x2's instead of 2x4's and shimmed with scrap-wood instead of cedar shims.

 

[2minkey]

Off hand, I'd have to say an equal percentage of 'professionally' built homes fall under teh same standards.

off hand i'd say you are correct. there's so much shoddy new construction these days.

 

[H2O boy]

my experiences with the organization have borne positive outcomes. i felt this way before i was aware that james carter initiated the program, and his misguided hand being in the pot does not change my feelings toward this program. are there imperfections? of course. name anything that doesnt have flaws. but overall i feel better about a habitat house than one of those home makeover shows where the recipient does nothing toward the upgrade. there have already been some of those forclose etc. a former coworker lived in a habitat house. life had been pretty cruel to her, and i know without hesitation that she and her teenaged sons put in more than what was required toward building it, and that she kept it well maintained after moving in.

 

[Gonz]

off hand i'd say you are correct. there's so much shoddy new construction these days.

ahh, c;mon. it's trendiness to live in Bear Shits in the Woods Estates. The builder said it was just a minor glitch & he'll be back. He promised.

 

[nalani]

Fine.

It seems that a certain amount of the homes in this particular project are not fit for human habitation; which leads one to ponder how many other homes built by this socialistic undertaking may be similarly lacking in good workmanship and material standards.

There. Is that better?

I've been ignoring you for my own sanity (and because all I hear when you say 'fine' is a 5 year-old stomping around with a big 'harumphy' look on his face) but I just couldn't pass this up. Ok. You go ahead with that statement and I'll make a similar statement on another subject with the exact same connotation.

"Last night I went to Walmart and could only find one competent, literate, knows-what-they're-doing employee who could help me with a simple price check out of the myriad of employees I spoke with, which leads one to ponder how many other Walmart employees or Walmart-trained employees may be lacking in these basic elementary skills".

Generalizations are so easy.