New Haven Independent

Yale-New Haven Hospital and Madison Cares financed the houses in the Hill neighborhood under the aegis of the Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven.

The Trinidad-Matos (in top photo) and Castgro-Quiñones families are more than happy to be out of the Church Street South housing project, and ready to assume the many responsibilities of homeownership.

“I’m really happy,” said Ginette Quiñones-Castro, as she surveyed the pristine basement of her new home at 23 Wilson St. during the dedication ceremony, which took place Saturday.

There were no rusty bikes, ironing boards, boxes of old toys, tires or any of the other objects that seem to inevitably accumulate in the cellar.

Quiñones-Castro said she plans to plant a garden in her spacious backyard. “I have a lot of emotions inside me,” she said.

“This feels wonderful,” Pedro Castro said. “I know a lot of people here” in the Hill neighborhood off of Ella Grasso Boulevard, he said.

The families are friends, but both have tentatively agreed to build a fence to separate the lots, which used to hold four houses.

The Trinidad-Matos family next door, at 15 Wilson St., was also experiencing that new house semi-shock. “I think they’ll be good neighbors,” Eliezer Trinidad said.

The Quiñones-Castros chose red siding, while the Trinidad-Matoses selected green for their mirror-image dwelling.

Actually, both houses are “green,” said Bill Casey, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven.

The houses have eco-friendly siding, the shiny floors are bamboo, cellulose was blown through the walls for insulation, and both paint and carpets are low in volatile organic compounds, Casey said.

“Everything worked out really well. I think we’ll continue to build green,” he said.

The houses would cost about $85,000 a piece on the open market, Casey said. The two lucky families will receive a zero percent mortgage owned by Habitat for Humanity, yielding a base payment of $280 a month, plus insurance, taxes, and all of the other expenses that sneak into the monthly bill.

Closings on both homes will take place next week.

Families are selected to receive Habitat for Humanity houses based on income, and a willingness to put 400 hours of “sweat equity” into the building.

Applicants must also demonstrate that they can afford the mortgage, Casey said.

Owners are asked to help build the house, but all electrical, plumbing and other specialized jobs are done by licensed and bonded professionals.

Currently Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven has a waiting list of about 700 families, Casey said.

The Wilson Street houses were built from the foundations upon land acquired by the city.

Mike Maguire, president of the Madison Cares organization, which raised $65,000 for the 23 Wilson St. house, said the Quiñones-Castro family helped all along after construction started in November.

“We’re looking to build communities. We try to build clusters of houses to reinvigorate neighborhoods,” he said.

Each house has three bedrooms, meaning some family members will have to share space.

Ginette Quiñones-Castro said her two boys, Pedro Caleb, 8, and Josue Daniel, 3, will share a bedroom. Kereyann, 10, gets her own room.

Next door, Eliezer Jr., 14, and Jomar, 12, will probably end up in the same room, leaving Karaley, 2, in the third bedroom.

Evelyn Matos said she plans to put a play gym in her backyard for Karaley, and a trampoline for Eliezer and Jomar.

“You know, they need exercise,” she said.

Both boys groaned and rolled their eyes.
“I’m not heavy,” Jomar protested.

It’s already sounding like home.