Man’s Rejection of Habitat House

Re “Habitat Sues Man Who Rejected House,” June 3: I would like to clarify what Habitat for Humanity does. Habitat for Humanity builds homes with families in need of a simple, decent place to live. The homes are then sold to the families at no profit to Habitat for Humanity and through no-interest mortgages, which are administered by Habitat. Habitat homes are priced well below market value, because most materials and labor are donated. This is what makes them affordable for hard-working, low-income families.

Every home we build has a lien against it to protect our organization from people who qualify for a home and then try to sell it for windfall profits. By putting a lien on the homes until the mortgages are paid off, Habitat protects the investment of the hundreds of volunteers and sponsors who build the homes. Habitat homeowners are always free to sell their home at any time, provided they pay back the investment Habitat and the community put into it.

Habitat for Humanity is not a charity and its homes are not gifts. This is the key to our success. Because families are required to pay a down payment, make monthly mortgage payments and put 500 hours of labor into their home and the homes of other Habitat families, they are invested in their houses and take great care and pride in maintaining them and paying for them. One of the new families for our upcoming build in Panorama City put it this way, “If it takes 5,000 hours, we will do it. We are blessed by God to be given a chance to own a home from Habitat.” The vast majority of our families share this sentiment.

HELENA DELU, Exec. Dir.

Habitat for Humanity

North Hollywood

* The idea that the poor who complain about the quality or quantity of the charitable offerings they receive are ungrateful miscreants is an old one. After reading this article, I am reminded of “Oliver Twist,” when Oliver asks for more oatmeal, and “Anne of Green Gables” where Anne, the impoverished orphan, wears “a very short, very tight, very ugly dress of yellowish gray wincey.”

It seems that Habitat could not divert from its busy, self-important desire to help long enough to make even a cursory inquiry of the recipient’s preferences.

Actually, housing that is low cost and pleasing can be achieved. It only requires creative effort and a willingness to be flexible. But this is charity, let them wear gray wincey, there’s never enough oatmeal and if you complain you’ll hear from our lawyer.

MEGAN EMORY

Malibu