From a Dream and a Hot Plate to a Home—Thanks to Habitat

In September 2022, I bought my dream house. It didn’t have any sinks or heat, and the fixtures in both bathrooms were frozen. There were no appliances. Everyone told me not to buy it, including my realtor, my home inspector, and all my friends, but I knew I could make it work. For the first six months, I camped out, using a hot plate, a microwave, and a toaster oven.

Community housing partners (a government program) sent over a crew to do an energy audit. It was off the charts.

Eighteen months later, I had a new roof, a new heat pump, and insulation in all of the knee walls. Now the house was tight.

There was still much work to be done inside the house, though. I only had a subfloor in the kitchen, and the wooden floors in the bathroom had been damaged by water. The washing machine and dryer were located in the basement, under a treacherous staircase.

I applied for a home improvement grant from Warren County Habitat for Humanity in April.

Several weeks ago, Mr. Maloney and his son installed beautiful kitchen and bathroom floors, and relocated the washer and dryer to the back porch.

I no longer have to climb down the stairs. Eric Starks is on tap to repair my water-damaged bedroom ceiling.

I am grateful to have been selected for this program, and I want everyone in Warren County to know how much I appreciate the work and supervision of Warren County Habitat President Debra Siksay and Executive Director Andrea Ross for their patience with my frequent inquiries.

Diane Deutman
Front Royal, VA

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