On June 16, a bright, sunny day with blue skies, a new Habitat for Humanity home in Acton was dedicated. In a moving and inspiring program, the McTernan Daniels family moving into the Carlisle Road home expressed their deep gratitude to all who played a part in the project. Reverend Cindy Worthington-Barry led all who gathered in a blessing of the home, gifts were presented by the North Central Habitat for Humanity Construction Manager Rick Perkins, Discovery Museum CEO Neil Gordon, and the Local Project Committee. At the conclusion of the program, the key was presented to the family by Acton Community Housing Corporation (ACHC) Chair Janet Adachi.
Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts is a local, independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Volunteer labor along with donated materials, land, and funding makes the construction of these homes possible. Habitat homeowners provide labor as well, and pay for a below-cost home through an interest-free mortgage. The Carlisle Road home is the fourth Habitat home to be built in Acton. This sustained collaborative relationship with Acton is a testament to the Town’s commitment to providing affordable housing opportunities for families.
This project was made possible by numerous key partners. Senator Jaime Eldridge’s remarks touched on the Senate’s focus on affordable housing in its tax package and the fact that Habitat for Humanity provides one of the few home-ownership opportunities for low-income families. All five members of the Acton Select Board were in attendance and offered a warm welcome to Zach, Maribeth and their three young children.
The Town of Acton donated the home and also provided funding from the ACHC’s Community Housing Fund and a CPA grant. The volunteers who worked on the construction of the home are too many to list here, but include residents from the neighborhood, students from Minuteman Technical High School, and corporate partner volunteers from Acton Boxborough United Way, Workers Credit Union, Emerson Hospital, Enterprise Bank, Great Road Church, Cisco, and Dell. Major contributors included Housing Ministries of New England, Wells Fargo, Acton Lions Club, Acton Congregational Church, South Acton Congregational Church, West Acton Baptist Church, UCC Boxborough, Lazaro Paving, and Solar Design Associates, and DSD Renewables.
