GREENFIELD — Debra Cavaletto is looking forward to having a home her son can invite his friends to, a yard for their dachshund and a place to have a barbecue.
She drove the first nail into that dream last week, followed by many more from volunteers with Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity’s latest endeavor to provide an affordable home to a Hancock County family.
Saws buzzed and hammers pounded as helmet-clad workers erected walls on the concrete slab on West Sixth Street in Greenfield. By its anticipated completion date in September, the formerly undeveloped lot will have a house of about 1,400 to 1,500 square feet with three bedrooms, one bathroom, a garage and porch.
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Click here to purchase photos from this galleryCavaletto said she felt excited and blessed as she watched the work start on her new home.
“It’s been a privilege for me and my family to partner up with Habitat,” she said, adding she’s been involved with the organization since April 2018.
She currently rents an apartment in Greenfield, where she lives with her 14-year-old son, Landon.
“I knew that I wanted to be a homeowner one day, but honestly I didn’t have much hope, being a single parent,” she said.
Then she came across Habitat for Humanity on Facebook. She went straight to the organization’s local thrift shop, ReStore, and filled out an application.
“I prayed to God and said, ‘God, if you want me to have this house, it’ll happen. If not, I’m OK where I’m at,” she said.
Within a week, Habitat for Humanity was at her door to inform her that she and Landon had been chosen.
“I had the desire but yet I had to be content where I was and trust that if it was meant to be, it would happen,” she said. “And it did.”
Cavaletto noticed the Sixth Street property driving around town before Habitat for Humanity even offered it to her. Landon’s father lives the next street over. She already knows one of her neighbors — Sue Sanders, who babysat her eldest son.
“I believe this is where I’m supposed to be,” Cavaletto said.
Sanders said she was pleasantly surprised to learn Cavaletto would be moving next door.
“I didn’t know who was moving in, but it was nice to know it was somebody that I knew,” she said.
Cavaletto’s apartment doesn’t allow for barbecues or a lot of space for Landon to have friends over.
“He’s a teen, so it’s important that he be able to have a home that he can bring his friends to,” she said.
She’s looking forward to having her adult son and daughter over for holidays and visits as well.
As a Habitat for Humanity home buyer, Cavaletto was offered a zero-interest loan for her house. Abri Hochstetler, associate director of communications and annual giving for Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity, said homeowners qualify based on need, affordability and willingness to partner. Cavaletto meets the criteria based on her stable income and inability to qualify for a traditional mortgage, Hochstetler said.
Cavaletto is almost finished with her 300 hours of “sweat equity” with the organization, too. She’s been working on other Habitat for Humanity projects in Indianapolis and Greenfield through tasks like painting, siding, assembling pre-built walls and working at the organization’s ReStore.
“That’s my passion as well — to help others,” she said.
She also completed financial literacy and home maintenance classes.
“You are very much prepared to be a homeowner when you complete the course,” she said. “You can know you have confidence that you can maintain your residence and keep it up.”
Chase Yanzer, construction superintendent for Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity, led the building efforts as work began on Cavaletto’s home last week. He expects the finished product to be a nice addition to the neighborhood.
“It’ll look really nice from the street,” he said.
Hancock Regional Hospital and Vectren employees made up much of the volunteer force. Angie Kennedy, transitional care liaison for Hancock Regional Hospital, said the hospital holds a lottery every year for employees to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity projects. Kennedy was happy to help Cavaletto, whom she’s known for a long time.
“This is our community,” Kennedy said. “We need to do everything we can for everybody in our community.”
Cavaletto’s home is the fourth project in Hancock County for Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity, which also carries out projects in Marion, Hamilton and Hendricks counties. Hochstetler said Hancock County’s three other homeowners have settled in well and are keeping up with their payments.
Those interested in volunteering on Cavaletto’s home and other area Habitat for Humanity projects are encouraged to visit indyhabitat.org/volunteer.
