Media Coverage

Habitat announces partnership with Amica to finish house by end of year

By Steve Marcotte Gardner News

August 8, 2008 ASHBURNHAM — In time for the winter holidays, a family who has been living in a cramped basement apartment will have their own home for the first time.

North Central Massachusetts Habitat for Humanity partnered with Amica Mutual Insurance on the home, which should be completed by the end of the year. On Thursday, the nonprofit organization announced the collaboration with Amica during a press conference at the Sherbert Road site.

Leah McSparren, who will live in the home with her husband Chris and their three children, said Habitat has basically “given us a home.” Ms. McSparren said they are grateful for all of the volunteers who have helped in the process to build the home.

“From professionals, to students, to people baking us cookies, without them, it would not be possible,” she said.

The McSparren family, who have lived in a two-room, basement apartment in Townsend, will supply 500 hours of service to the project and must pay a loan through Habitat, according to the agreement. Megan Foley, executive director of the local Habitat affiliate, said the family will have completed more than 1,000 hours of work by the time the house is completed.

When the family applied for a home through Habitat, Ms. McSparren said they were “looking to provide a better life for us and our children.”

“In our application, I wrote an essay about how we are good, honest people who are willing to work very hard, that we love each other and our children very much,” she said. “We had no idea how much love would come back to us during this process.”

Construction began on the three-bedroom, ranch-style home in March. Volunteers have worked on the house during the weekends, and will continue until it’s finished.

Several volunteers, town officials and representatives from Habitat and Amica were in attendance at Thursday’s event.

The partnership between Amica and Habitat is the second collaboration between the two groups to build a home in north central Massachusetts, according to Patti Stadnick, communications officer at the insurance company. Amica and Habitat worked together on a house in Fitchburg in 2006.

“We choose opportunities that make sense for Amica and for Amica’s culture,” Ms. Stadnick said. “I must say that Habitat for Humanity really resonates loudly as a sponsorship that is right for Amica. We value hard work, dedication and integrity, all of which are principles that are interwoven with everything that Habitat For Humanity does for its families.”

The efforts of Habitat and Amica is particularly important during the current “housing crisis,” said John Llodra, a member of Habitat’s Board of Directors.

“There is no shortage of negative news out there right now as it relates to the housing market and the real estate market. ... This is such a welcome change to all of that,” he said.

Town officials in attendance at the event emphasized the importance of families owning their own home.

Selectman Jonathan Dennehy said they need to preserve the American dream for people in the middle class.

“Right now there are large segments of our population that are unable to obtain financing to get their own home,” Mr. Dennehy said.

Town Administrator Kevin Paicos, who has been away on military duty in Afghanistan, said he truly understands the desire to call a place home.

“I can say that with profound certainty, home is where we all want to be,” he said.