BRUNSWICK, Ohio - A new beginning. What could be more appropriate for the holidays? That's what has happened to one Brunswick family and for a neighborhood.
Several years ago, Sara Kerr, a Brunswick resident since 2013, found herself divorced with two children to care for. She struggled but wanted to remain in Brunswick.
Meanwhile, city officials were receiving calls about a house on Rocklyn Drive. It was what a television show might describe as the "worst house on the block."
Brunswick Council President, Nick Hanek, said he would receive regular calls from neighbors about the condition of the house as the representative of this ward. When they checked, they found an elderly resident who likely didn't even realize the house was so run down it was unsafe. The problem went on for some time, he said.
City officials worked with the family to find her a safe place to live and had contact with Habitat For Humanity of Medina County, who then purchased the property. Hanek said, "Habitat is always looking for appropriate properties (as they are sometimes scarce). It is an option or discussion a lot of property owners may not be aware of when there are properties that may pose difficulties on a sale due to condition."
This house was in such bad shape, it had to be torn down.
Kerr, who works at the Cleveland Clinic in Brunswick, said a nurse who works with her suggested she apply to Habitat for Humanity. "I contacted them and began the process in hopes of one day owning my own home."
Once she was approved as a potential partner with Habitat, she joined a long-standing plan which involves contributing labor hours to the construction process. Tom O'Connell, executive director of the county program said while 250 hours of work are required, "Sara volunteered to work more than 250 hours, including on her own home."
Kerr and her children Gavin and Olivia were officially presented with the keys to the house on Dec. 10 with a large crowd in attendance. More than 100 volunteers had spent time on the house, including many of the city officials who had received those earlier calls. Because Habitat owns several properties in Brunswick, she was able to choose her location and make decisions about the details in the home. The modest new home includes three bedrooms and a much-admired laundry room and modern, spacious kitchen.
The following week she signed her mortgage and was able to begin moving in.
Potential homebuyers, it was noted, also have to attend education classes to learn about budgeting, home maintenance, and other essential skills. After a home is built or rehabilitated, the family closes on their mortgage, which is designed to be affordable and sustainable. Their monthly mortgage payments are then reinvested into the Habitat program to help build more homes.
"It takes a whole community to make the homeowner program work," O'Connell said. As an example, he said it wasn't too long ago that the walls of this home were standing in a parking lot on Lafayette Road in Medina, thanks to the work of 10 United Methodist Churches who came together to build them. And, as faith is one of Habitat's founding principles, the family was presented with a Bible from Pat Neal, a member of the board, and everyone who had worked on the home and all the guests were invited to sign it.
Special thanks were given contractors and suppliers as well as other volunteers from organizations like Rotary Club of Brunswick, Shook Construction, BYU Alumnus, Cleveland Clinic, Cloverleaf Cross Country. Gifts in kind were donated by Brunswick's Home Appliance & Service, Whirlpool and DOW. Financial sponsors included Brunswick, Medina and Sharon center United Methodist churches, the Welser Profile and The Jochum-Moll Foundation.
Habitat currently has two homes being built - one at West Greenwich Road in Seville and the other on Elmwood Street in Medina. This summer, another project will begin in Brunswick, too.
O'Connell noted that the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Medina, helps raise funds for the work being done in the county and encouraged everyone to stop in. It's located at 233 Lafayette Road, Medina. And he noted, volunteers are always welcome.
For more information, you can stop at the ReStore or go to https://www.habitat.org/oh/medina/hfh-medina-county.