Cape woman asked Habitat for Humanity to build affordable homes on her land. It worked.

Zane Razzaq, Cape Cod Times
Updated ·4 min read
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This story has been edited to correctly state who sold the land in Dennis to Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod. The seller was the Friends of Dennis Senior Citizens, Inc.

BREWSTER − Two three-bedroom homes under construction on a quiet stretch of land along Red Top Road are part of Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod's efforts to bring more affordable housing to the region.

Two families who grew up on Cape Cod will move into the houses when they are completed. One family is made up of a landscape and Marine Corps vet, his wife who is an educator, and their two young children, with the project representing Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod's first veterans build.

The other home will be for a Cape Cod Hospital pediatrician nurse and four children.

"We're expecting these houses to be done this fall," said Habitat for Humanity's Director of Resources Tara Cronin. "Right now, they're finishing up shingles and then they're going to start shoring up flooring."

Habitat homeowner Bernalynn Sargent, right, works with volunteer Bob Lodi as they put shingles on her new home in Brewster. This Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod home has three bedrooms and one and a half bathrooms. The home will be ready to be moved into in the fall. Two new Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod homes are being built on Phoebe Way. The homes are constructed on property that Elizabeth Finch subdivided. Finch's home remains on the nearly 58,000-square-foot lot. To see more photos, go to www.capecodtimes.com.

Habitat for Humanity acquired the land in 2020, but conversations first began several years prior. Elizabeth Finch approached the organization with a proposal to subdivide her nearly 58,000 square-foot-property into three lots with affordable homes built on two of them. She will continue to live in her current home.

Finch has named the new road Phoebe Way, in a nod to the phoebe birds that frequent the land and prefer open woods, yards and woodland edges, according to Habitat for Humanity.

The project is also supported with a $50,000 donation from Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club in Brewster.

Brewster homes to have solar systems, heat pumps

The homes, like all homes by Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod, will be extremely energy-efficient, said Cronin, typically equipped with features like solar systems, bamboo flooring, and more.

Ecologically-friendly and drought-resistant landscaping will provide all native plants, fruits, vegetables, and a mix of clover and grass in the yard, so fertilizers will not need to be used.

"A lot of our homeowners do not get an energy bill. One of the features that we use is a heat pump which not only heats the home but cools the home," said Cronin.

Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod has built over 180 homes on the peninsula.

Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod has built over 180 homes in all 15 towns on the Cape since its 1988 founding, according to its website. The first home was dedicated in Wellfleet in November 1989.

Local families help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. They must be willing to complete 250 hours per adult of "sweat equity" working on construction of the homes.

The homes are deed-restricted to remain affordable in perpetuity.

What's next?

Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod is currently accepting applications for eight affordable homes for purchase soon to be built.

The deadline to apply is Monday, May 13.

This new construction includes four three-bedroom homes on Jack Delaney Lane in Dennis and two three-bedroom and two two-bedroom homes on Old King's Highway in Wellfleet. The land in Dennis was bought from the Friends of Dennis Senior Citizens, Inc. with the Community Preservation funds used to cover the purchase.

Meanwhile the property in Wellfleet was purchased with Community Preservation funds from Wellfleet, but Habitat owned the land since around 2009. Plans were tied up in litigation for almost 15 years before the organization received approval to begin building this past year.

Sharon Dixon of William Raveis Real Estate selects a cedar shingle to hammer into this Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod home in Brewster. A group of real estate agents from William Raveis Real Estate were volunteering their time Thursday for the house build. Two new Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod homes are being built on Phoebe Way. The homes are constructed on property that Elizabeth Finch subdivided. Finch's home remains on the nearly 58,000-square-foot lot. To see more photos, go to www.capecodtimes.com.

Applicants have to meet certain criteria in three key areas — need, ability to pay and willingness to partner — to be considered. For instance, the applicant's total household income should be no higher than 80% of area median income by household size.

AMI for a family of four in Barnstable County is $108,700. So, 80% of AMI in Barnstable County for a family of four is $86,950.

The typical price to the homeowner for a Habitat Cape Cod home is $154,750 to $247,000, according to the website.

More information about the application process is available on Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod's website.

The permitting process is also underway for two homes in Marston Mills and four homes in Falmouth. Habitat for Humanity is also pursuing an opportunity for up to 13 homes in North Falmouth, seven homes in Orleans, and six in Yarmouth.

"We're always seeking land ... these are years out, we fill our pipeline four, five, six years out," said Wendy Cullinan, president and CEO.

Zane Razzaq writes about housing and real estate. Reach her at zrazzaq@capecodonline.com. Follow her on X @zanerazz.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod housing crisis: Where Habitat for Humanity is making a dent