TEMPERANCE — Nicole Cousino was hammering away Thursday morning, setting up the deck floor on a two-story home near downtown Temperance.
A year ago Ms. Cousino, a mother and Bedford High School cheerleading coach, would have never dreamed she’d be working on a construction team. But that’s what Habitat for Humanity will do to you.
She, along with her husband Ben Cousino and two children, were selected as the first Bedford Township family to receive a home built by the Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County. The 89 homes built by the group in the past 20 years all were in the northern part of the county. The Cousino family is grateful to be the first.
To qualify, each adult in the home must contribute 200 hours of sweat equity, something Ms. Cousino has learned a lot about this summer.
She didn’t seem to mind Thursday as she climbed up to the second story and kept working away.
“I didn’t know siding was so easy to put in,” she said. “I’ve done framing, and the deck floor. It’s cool to see all the steps [of construction]. Makes you think we can do our own home improvements.”
The family is looking to move into the new home around Christmastime. It won’t be a total Christmas gift, though; the homeowners still have to pay for the home. Habitat for Humanity sells it at the cost of supplies and construction — no profit. The organization also helps with grants that cover down payment costs.
Initially Ms. Cousino found out about the Habitat for Humanity build in Bedford Township reading The Blade, but she thought they “weren’t poor enough” to qualify.
“We look to serve the need for people in between 30 to 80 percent of the median income,” said M. David Graves, CEO and president of the Monroe County Habitat office. “We want to put them in a position to succeed and make their monthly payments.”
Near the end of July, construction director Jim Worful demolished the home on Washington Street in Temperance, which had been foreclosed on and had asbestos issues.
Habitat for Humanity members have been impressed by the outpouring of support from the Bedford community during its first build there.
“I have an endless stream of volunteer support team,” Mr. Worful said. “Every day they’re here. It adds to the sense of community.”
Along with contributing sweat equity, homeowners must go through homeownership and financial management classes.
Ms. Cousino can’t wait for her husband to come back in a few weeks from Texas where he is with the Air National Guard. Mr. Cousino hasn’t been able to watch the construction of the new house. It will have four bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Contact Matt Thompson at: mthompson@theblade.com, 419-356-8786, or on Twitter at @mthompson25.
First Published September 7, 2015, 4:00 a.m.
