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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Smoke blankets Rogue Valley as Stouts fire grows to 8,500 acres ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: Missing Jon Stewart ... Ticket Availability ... Smoke blankets Rogue Valley as Stouts fire grows to 8,500 acres ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: Missing Jon Stewart ... Ticket Availability ... HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Helping hands aid single mom Well-known for building new homes, program also boosts renovation efforts Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted May. 29, 2015 at 8:24 PM Updated May 29, 2015 at 8:26 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted May. 29, 2015 at 8:24 PM Updated May 29, 2015 at 8:26 PM What do you think? --> Have an opinion on this issue? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter. » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this issue? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter . » Social News Habitat for Humanity on Friday finished up its first-ever “critical repairs” of a low-income home in Ashland and put out the word that they have new funding for more. The HFH team put in three months and $20,000 on the leaky, decaying, single-story home on Avery Street, where the owner, single-mom New Leaf pitched in with sweat equity — lots of painting and cooking, including a highly-thought of “Wednesday soup.”  Habitat is well-known for building new homes on new land, but, says Executive Director Denise James, they get lots of donations and volunteer help and are moving also into much cheaper rehabs.  “It’s about helping low-income families with repairs, if they qualify based on need and have the ability to contribute sweat equity,” said HFH repair supervisor Sherri Vitaris.  Forty-two volunteers helped out, including people from several schools: Southern Oregon University, Willow Glen High School in San Jose and California State University at San Marcos, who worked on spring break, said Holly Hobart, program manager for HFH.  “We’re moving in a new direction, partnering with the city of Ashland and using CDBG (Community Development Block Grants, from the federal government),” says James, noting that some of the $43,000 they got for this will go to other “maintenance and repair” projects in Ashland.  Hobart says HFH is now looking for other applicants for interior and exterior repair. They have to be low income, 30 to 60 percent of federal median (gross) income for this county. If they make more than that, says James, they should be able to get traditional loans.  Ashland Hardware donated interior paint, many materials and the labor of painting, she says. JAM Roofing donated and installed the roofing. CertainTeed in Central Point donated the siding. Valspar Paint donated exterior paint.  The house was in serious condition when Habitat came on the scene, said construction volunteer Mike Daley.  “It was a total renovation, a complete re-do of the exterior, with total window replacement,” says Daley, adding they found rot underneath the bathroom and walls, forcing everyone to fall back and reevaluate costs, time and materials needed to get it right.  “I’m overwhelmed with the wonderful change and what it’s meant to my life,” said owner New Day. “We’d walk around and say ‘can you believe it?’ It’s just beautiful. I’ve never met such a genial and crafty group. Being a single mom, you don’t often feel supported, but I think I’m going to cry. This is the biggest show of support in a long time. I love Ashland and this has made it possible for me to live here another 20 years.”  Present at the project-ending ceremony, city Councilor Pam Marsh, a main advocate of the program, said, “It’s fabulous, what we hoped for.”  The city just assigned another $50,000 to the program, starting July 1, said Marsh, and, for the first time, it will include rehab of mobile homes.  John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted May. 29, 2015 at 8:24 PM Updated May 29, 2015 at 8:26 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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