BRODHEAD — Soon a family will move into their new home in Brodhead. By itself, that’s not spectacular news, but it is for Sarah and Matt Daly and Habitat for Humanity Green County.
Sarah, Matt and their two children will be the latest family to move into a home created by Habitat for Humanity Green County (HHGC). This is the 25th home Habitat has built.
The fixer-upper home needed a lot of renovations in order to make it habitable, as it was vacant for several years and had many problems. When the home became available, HHGC decided it would search for the right people to take it on. After careful consideration, the Daly family was selected based on HHGC’s qualifying factors of need, ability to pay the mortgage, willingness to partner and ties to the community.
They weren’t daunted by all the work the home required. Jason Riley, a professional contractor, oversees the rehabilitation, but the Dalys agreed to do much of the painting, sanding, insulating, and other tasks. Matt Daly works in home construction, so he has the expertise to do much of the work himself. Sarah Daly is right in there with him.
The Dalys, who currently rent an apartment in Monroe, say they are eager to set up housekeeping in the new place. The family hopes to be moved in by early spring.
Sarah Daly said they’d always wanted to own their own home but weren’t able to qualify for a conventional mortgage. They, along with several other families, applied to HHGC. When the Dalys heard they had been selected, Sarah said they were “ecstatic.”
“It will be the largest place we’ve ever lived in,” she said.
Their children, Amelia, 10, and Atlas, 3, will have play areas inside and outdoors.
In order to qualify for an HHGC home, potential owners must put in a requisite number of “sweat equity” hours. The Daly family has already exceeded that requirement and were going “like gangbusters,” according to Linda Wells, who is liaison between the family and HHGC.
Family Promise of Green County, partnering with HHGC, will offer counseling to help keep the family finances on track. There is a possibility that another grant will further ease the financial burden. Current high-interest home loan rates do not apply because HHGC homes are offered with interest-free mortgages.
The house stood vacant for several years and now, with the hard work of the Daly family and the hand up offered by Habitat for Humanity Green County, there will be a fresh outlook for the house and its new family.
