Charity homes built by Hollywood start to crumble

[GG]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article5439388.ece

John Harlow in Los Angeles

RESIDENTS of a model housing estate bankrolled by Hollywood celebrities and hand-built by Jimmy Carter, the former US president, are complaining that it is falling apart.

Fairway Oaks was built on northern Florida wasteland by 10,000 volunteers, including Carter, in a record 17-day "blitz" organised by the charity Habitat for Humanity.

Eight years later it is better known for cockroaches, mildew and mysterious skin rashes.

A forthcoming legal battle over Fairway Oaks threatens the reputation of a charity envied for the calibre of its celebrity supporters, who range from Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt to Colin Firth, Christian Bale and Helena Bonham Carter.

The case could challenge the bedrock philosophy behind Habitat for Humanity, claiming that using volunteers, rather than professional builders, is causing as many problems as it solves.

April Charney, a lawyer representing many of the 85 homeowners in Fairway Oaks, said she had no problems taking on Habitat for Humanity, despite its status as a "darling of liberal social activists". She said the charity should have told people that part of the estate had been built on a rubbish dump.

One man pulled up his floorboards to find rubbish 5ft deep under his kitchen. Other complaints include cracking walls and rotting door frames that let in rats and ants. Many residents have complained of mildew and mysterious skin rashes.

One resident said her children were suffering from skin complaints. "The intentions are good, but when the politicians and big-shot stars have left we're stuck with the consequences. This house looks pretty but inside it either stinks or sweats," she said.

Judy Hall, the charity's local development director, said recently that it had been dealing with about 30 complaints. She added that skilled work was carried out by professionals.

Some residents dismiss their neighbours' worries. Diennal Fields, 51, said people did not know how to look after their homes: "It's simple stuff: if there is mildew, don't get a lawyer, get a bottle of bleach."

[Wrinkle]

I don't think general, periodic house cleaning and maintenance were included in their free house deals.

...if they don't like their free houses, they can move somewhere else.

[TURobY]

quote:Originally posted by unreliablesource


...

April Charney, a lawyer representing many of the 85 homeowners in Fairway Oaks, said she had no problems taking on Habitat for Humanity, despite its status as a "darling of liberal social activists". She said the charity should have told people that part of the estate had been built on a rubbish dump.
...

Ms. Charney sure doesn't sound like she has a bone to pick...

[TURobY]

quote:Originally posted by Wrinkle

I don't think general, periodic house cleaning and maintenance were included in their free house deals.

...if they don't like their free houses, they can move somewhere else.

The houses aren't free.

But I agree, most of these issues sound like maintenance problems. Attention residents, you live in Florida, a humid environment with lots of insects. You need to treat for insects and seal or paint exposed wood. If you don't do those things periodically, you will suffer the exact same consequences as the people in this article.

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by unreliablesource

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article5439388.ece

John Harlow in Los Angeles

RESIDENTS of a model housing estate bankrolled by Hollywood celebrities and hand-built by Jimmy Carter, the former US president, are complaining that it is falling apart.

Fairway Oaks was built on northern Florida wasteland by 10,000 volunteers, including Carter, in a record 17-day "blitz" organised by the charity Habitat for Humanity.

Eight years later it is better known for cockroaches, mildew and mysterious skin rashes.

A forthcoming legal battle over Fairway Oaks threatens the reputation of a charity envied for the calibre of its celebrity supporters, who range from Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt to Colin Firth, Christian Bale and Helena Bonham Carter.

The case could challenge the bedrock philosophy behind Habitat for Humanity, claiming that using volunteers, rather than professional builders, is causing as many problems as it solves.

April Charney, a lawyer representing many of the 85 homeowners in Fairway Oaks, said she had no problems taking on Habitat for Humanity, despite its status as a "darling of liberal social activists". She said the charity should have told people that part of the estate had been built on a rubbish dump.

One man pulled up his floorboards to find rubbish 5ft deep under his kitchen. Other complaints include cracking walls and rotting door frames that let in rats and ants. Many residents have complained of mildew and mysterious skin rashes.

One resident said her children were suffering from skin complaints. "The intentions are good, but when the politicians and big-shot stars have left we're stuck with the consequences. This house looks pretty but inside it either stinks or sweats," she said.

Judy Hall, the charity's local development director, said recently that it had been dealing with about 30 complaints. She added that skilled work was carried out by professionals.

Some residents dismiss their neighbours' worries. Diennal Fields, 51, said people did not know how to look after their homes: "It's simple stuff: if there is mildew, don't get a lawyer, get a bottle of bleach."

A couple of things intrigue me about this story. One is that it seems to be gleefully playing into a myth that liberals are well meaning but naive celebrities. This implies that pragmatic reality based conservatives don't participate in such nonsense. Habitat for Humanity accepts donations from celebrity conservatives as well.

But most curious is this remark, "One man pulled up his floorboards to find rubbish 5ft deep under his kitchen." If he pulled up his floorboards he most likely found 6 inches of concrete laid over another 6 inches of crushed stone or sand. Five foot of rubbish will not hold up a house frame and never would have passed code inspections. However well meaning and powerful liberal celebrities are, they aren't able to ignore building codes and inspections.

Honestly. I suspect some serious bs here. Lawsuits are part of the American dream and are at least as important to us as the lottery. Being able to sue a philanthropic organization populated with do-gooder celebrity liberals? Priceless.

[TURobY]

Okay, the story is actually about a year-and-a-half old. Florida Times-Union

[GG]

quote:Originally posted by TURobY

Okay, the story is actually about a year-and-a-half old. Florida Times-Union

Actually the story is about 8 years old.  

The story you site brings up the problems they are having and HFH promising they will fix it.  

The story I posted is after a year and a half after the story you posted they are now filing law suits.

[rwarn17588]

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

A couple of things intrigue me about this story. One is that it seems to be gleefully playing into a myth that liberals are well meaning but naive celebrities. This implies that pragmatic reality based conservatives don't participate in such nonsense. Habitat for Humanity accepts donations from celebrity conservatives as well.

Yup. Some of the biggest conservatives I know are unabashed supporters (and volunteers) of Habitat for Humanity, including my now-deceased grandfather.

[JoeMommaBlake]

I didn't know Habitat for Humanity was politically affiliated in any way. I suppose I knew that Jimmy Carter is involved and that he is a Democrat. I guess I just didn't feel like those dots needed to be connected.

My grandfather, who ran for congress a couple of years ago and was even endorsed by uber right winger Tom Coburn, is now retired and travels the country doing work for Habitat for Humanity and other similar non-profits.

He's as principled as it gets and if it was liberal or democrat, he likely wouldn't be a part.

[Cats Cats Cats]

"He's as principled as it gets" and "if it was liberal or democrat, he likely wouldn't be a part."

Seem to contradict themselves.

But I guess that depends on where exactly your principles lie

Tell him thanks for helping!

I heard after your 100th habitat for humanity house they move you to Extreme Makeover : Home Edition and Ty just yells in your face for 3 days.

[cannon_fodder]

Habitat for Humanity, Public Housing, Extreme Makeover Home Addition... you name it.  If you GIVE someone a place to live they generally don't know how or don't care to treat it properly.  It takes MONEY it run a household and keep your property in good shape.  It takes effort.

Ignorance, lack of oversight, and/or sloth will kill any property in due time.  Probably has more to do with it than shoddy construction.  I lived in a totally crap trailer for 4 years and improved it's condition while living there.  I guarantee these houses are better built (and 15+ years newer) than that POS.

That said... if they failed to follow code or properly warn of hazards there is a suit there.  I don't really know enough about the case to judge the merits.