In 2008, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland began building our 50th house.  It seemed very appropriate that this home be identified as an Interfaith Build to remind us, and the community, of our origins and ongoing faith connections.  In building the Interfaith House, people from all faiths came together to both fund and construct this home.  This house was sponsored by our Portland Interfaith Committee to promote collaboration and understanding among the religious communities in Greater Portland.  Co-sponsor, Hancock Lumber, has been a long time contributor to HFHGP, donating building materials for one home each year.

The Munye Family went to closing and moved in to their home in early October.

Closing services were donated by the offices of Hopkinson & Abbondanza.

This house is a “green” house according to standards set by the Maine State Housing Authority (MSHA), meaning that all possible energy efficiencies, environmental awareness and heat conservation have been incorporated into the home design.  The “green” houses will also help families maintain affordability by reduced heating and electrical costs.

The Interfaith House provided an educational component by providing an opportunity for youth, volunteers, and the professional construction industry to participate in the building of one of Maine’s first affordable “green” homes. This “green” designed affordable house is positioned in a four (4) lot subdivision being developed by Habitat   on Demerest Street Extension in Greater Portland.

Groundbreaking Celebration - October 11, 2007

From left to right: Cynthia Jane Collins (Interfaith Maine);

Judy Kimball (Thornton Heights Methodist); Pastor Lynn Campbell

(Thornton Heights Methodist); Matthew Goldfarb (Temple Beth El);

Tony Doman (St. Pius X, St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church).

Almost Home

The Munye Family

Homeownership means different things to different people.  For Munye and his wife Sitey it means freedom, stability, and perhaps most important, a safe place to raise their family. 

Munye and Sitey traveled to the United States more than 10 years ago with their 11 children.  Originally from Somalia, they were a minority clan forced to leave their country in the midst of a deadly civil war.   They moved their family to Kenya to a  refugee camp for 7 years, where they faced overcrowding and the constant threat of malaria. 

The Munye Family were not left with many options.  They were not welcome to stay in Kenya and they could not return to Somalia.  At the time the only country that would offer them refuge was the U.S.  Catholic Charities sponsored the Munye Family to come to the U.S.  Munye remembers the exact date they arrived in Portland.  It was Friday, September 12, 1997.

During the first several months in Portland they stayed in a refugee settlement, then in July of 1998 they moved to Riverton Park, where they have lived ever since.  While their current home is big enough accommodate their entire family, it can be a rough neighborhood at times and they are looking forward to the quiet, peacefulness that will come with owning their own home.

Munye and Sitey were first introduced to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland upon their arrival in 1997, however, not knowing enough about the program they put the idea aside.  Then in 2001, they applied for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland homeownership program.  They were not selected the first time, but when they reapplied in 2002, we they were selected by our Family Selection Committee. 

Throughout the past five years Munye and Sitey have put in several hundred hours working on Habitat projects, including home building, fundraisers and events, as well as Saturdays in the Habitat ReStore.  Working with our program has taught them many skills, including how to make home repairs and maintain their home.  Working alongside community volunteers has also helped them to sharpen their language skills.

Sitey noted that over the years she has most enjoyed meeting people and one of her favorite tasks has been learning how to paint, which will come in handy when they move into their new home next year.  Living in an apartment, they have not been able to paint any of the white walls.  So Sitey is looking forward to putting her painting skills to work in her family’s new home. 

Munye and Sitey agree that living in their own home will provide them a safe place to raise their children and welcome their friends and family. For them homeownership is a tangible realization of their American dream – freedom and hope for the future.

Faith Community

Representation

Allen Avenue Unitarian Universalist

    Jennifer & David Dubay

    Elisabeth Rudenberg

The Episcopal Cathedral

of St. Luke

    Dr. Joe Edgar

First Baptist Church

    Joel Reed

    Sharon Dupras

First Parish Church

     Scott Dow

     Stephen Jenks

     Dennis Lavaseur

NAACP Religious Affairs

     Dawud Umah

     Wells Staley- Mays

St. Pius X and St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic

     Tony Doman

     Anne Marie Spizzuoco

Temple Beth El

     Matthew Goldfarb

Thornton Heights

Methodist Church

    Judy Kimball

    Barbara Lambach

Interfaith Maine

    Cynthia Jane Collins

Wells Fargo & Company, a diversified financial services company, has been a supporter of Habitat for Humanity International for more than ten years. They offer financial contributions through the Wells FargoWells Fargo Housing Foundation and provide opportunities for employees to serve as volunteers for the many facets of Habitat’s work, from building to homeowner support.

in 2007, Susan Hight, served as a member on our Portland Board of

Realtors® Steering Committee. She coordinated volunteers from Wells

Fargo to work on the Portland Board of Realtors® Habitat house on Penn

Avenue in Portland in September 2007. Whenever Wells Fargo employees volunteer to help renovate or build a home for a low-income family, the Wells Fargo Foundation will make a donation to the nonprofit housing organization.

The volunteer support provided by the local Wells Fargo employees--they

had to provide 10 site volunteers for a minimum of seven days to secure

the donation--resulted in a $17,500 donation that was designated for the

Portland Board of Realtors® house.