Local Businesses Will Build a Home in Just 7 Days

Day 1 of the Habitat for Humanity Cape Cod Blitz Build in 2015

Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod’s next Blitz Build is set to begin on Monday, September 18th. The Blitz Build brings together home building professionals from across the Cape. Through donated materials and labor, a brand new home is built from the ground up in just 5 days.

Habitat Cape Cod’s 2017 Blitz Build will be third on Cape Cod. Mid-Cape Home Centers took part in the second Blitz Build and is eagerly looking forward to continuing the partnership. “I have been a fan of Habitat for Humanity Cape Cod’s work for quite a while. When the opportunity came to get involved in a professional level, we jumped at it,” said Jack Stevenson, President Mid-Cape Home Centers.

Houses like the one being built next week are desperately needed on the Cape. According to Habitat for Humanity Cape Cod, 37% of homes on Cape Cod are seasonal use, compared to the state average of 4%. In addition to the lack of available housing, home prices are often out of reach for Cape Codders as well. Habitat Cape Cod estimates that 30% of homeowners and 60% of renters are spending over 30% of their income on housing. This has created a severe lack of affordable housing. The median household income on Cape Cod is $60,986, however a salary of $76,600 is needed in order to afford a median priced home on the Cape.

The Blitz Build is made possible by generous businesses on Cape Cod. “We rely HEAVILY on business support, through donated materials and labor or deeply discounted materials and labor. We also shop and hire locally for the products we build with and the work that needs to be done by licensed professionals. It is IMPERATIVE to have the involvement of local businesses to help us serve local families in need of an affordable home,” said Wendy Cullinan, Habitat Cape Cod’s Director of Resource Development.

Employees of Mid-Cape Home Centers lending a hand at the Habitat for Humanity Blitz Build in 2015

This spirit of community and togetherness is unique to Cape Cod. Habitat Cape Cod knows that once the tourists go home for the season, the real Cape Codders take care of their own. The Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Cape Cod represents over 300 companies on the Cape which give materials, time, expertise and services abundantly to make this Blitz Build possible. Other Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod homes are built by everyday volunteers with little or no experience who donate time and money to create houses for deserving Cape Codders.

“Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod is not the small staff who work at 411 Main Street. Habitat Cape Cod is the businesses, faith organizations and the many, many generous individuals here on Cape Cod who support our work through volunteering both construction and non-construction, Since I started in 2013, at least one home, sometimes two homes each year, are fully sponsored by the faith community,” said Cullinan.

During the five day build, various members of the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Cape Cod will donate both materials and time to create a new home for a deserving family, and have a little fun at the same time. Mid-Cape Home Centers provides the majority of the framing lumber, as well as several other building materials. “We’re very happy to give back to the community,” said Stevenson. “It’s a great sense to be involved in the community.”

That feeling of giving back is almost tangible during the Blitz Build. “The atmosphere during Blitz week is phenomenal,” said Cullinan, “There is a sense of good and a sense of accomplishment that is almost tangible.Everyone from onlookers, organizers, and the work force are all extremely gregarious. Everyone is smiling. It’s truly amazing to see the year of planning start to roll out and end up in the completion of a beautiful, well-built home.

The family is usually on-site – literally watching a dream come true being built right before their eyes.”

It’s evident that feeling is shared by everyone involved. “The Blitz Build is so much fun,” said Stevenson. “You’ve got a big group of people who don’t normally work together. It’s all very organized and everyone works very hard. There’s a real sense of teamwork. You get to know each other really well.”

Habitat for Humanity Cape Cod’s 2017 Blitz Build will begin construction on Paul Hush Way in Brewster on Monday.

By the end of the week, one Cape Cod family will have a brand new home, all made possible by the hard work and donations of members of the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Cape Cod.

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About Rebecca Romo

Rebecca Romo hosts Feel Good Mornings weekday mornings from 6-10 am on 99.9 The Q. Originally from New Orleans, she moved to Cape to be with her husband a second generation Cape Codder.



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