Why We Do What We Do

Those close to the mission of Habitat for Humanity have heard the oft repeated phrase, “…eliminating substandard housing, one home at a time.”  Although the reality of what substandard means, broken windows, overcrowding, inoperative mechanicals is call-to-action enough, startling reminders exist to jolt us out of the complacency that naturally tends to occur over time, no matter one’s commitment to a cause.

Such a lightning bolt came on the heels of a deadly Christmas Eve fire that claimed three people in our community in Franklinton.  Two adults and a 4-year old son never saw Christmas morning because they were living in “substandard housing” that had no functioning gas service, hence no heat.  A recent article in The Columbus Dispatch told the story of the city issuing orders to the landlord more than two years ago to vacate the property after inspectors found an inoperable gas service, open electric boxes, leaky plumbing and a defective water heater.  Clearly, the property was the epitome of substandard housing.

According to the article, the landlord subsequently allowed the deceased family to rent the house, and in an effort to warm its interior, they used a space heater.  Unfortunately, it set their mattress ablaze and was the proximate cause of their deaths.  Fire investigators think that the man of the house died trying to save his family.   He apparently awoke when the mattress he and his partner were sleeping on in a downstairs room of the two-story house caught fire, and he tried to carry it out the front door. The flames grew as he neared the door, and he was overcome by heat and smoke. After he was overcome, his girlfriend lay helpless on the floor where he had yanked the burning mattress from out under her.  Unfortunately, as a victim of muscular dystrophy, she was unable to exit the house on her own.  The young boy was overcome as well.

An official with the city stated the owner never fixed the outstanding issues and, “When the property was reoccupied, that was done unlawfully.”  This particular landlord owns 22 other properties in the area, many of them in Franklinton, and the city has written orders on almost all at one time or another.

It is unfortunate that this scenario plays out hundreds, if not thousands of times each year in central Ohio.  Low income families pay upwards of $600 or more each month for the privilege of living in houses that don’t even meet code.

And that is why Habitat exists . . . to help such families, one at a time, become partners with us in building their own safe, decent and affordable home, one where there’s a better than 50/50 chance that their 0% mortgage payment each month will be less than they paid for rooms that, in this sad case, had no heat.

For those of you who have helped us with our mission, either through donation or volunteering, thank you!  For those who’ve yet to embrace our work, I encourage you to consider helping us provide, “…a hand up, not a handout.”  Let’s ensure all Columbus 4-year olds have the chance to experience the joy of Christmas morning next year.

E.J. Thomas, CEO

Partner Spotlight: