Habitat For Humanity
of Van Wert County (Ohio) -
Is This Great Or What!?
Disclaimer - opinions expressed are those of the unfortunate neighbors of one particular Habitat for Humanity of Van Wert County (Ohio) house. The facts, however, are the facts.
2008 - Same ol', same ol'
(After a major village-ordered cleanup in 2007)
Did you know.... once Habitat for Humanity places a family into one of their properties, they legally can totally wash their hands of ANY and EVERY problem that the Habitat family causes in that neighborhood? That's what Habitat for Humanity says!
That's right - Habitat for Humanity can place a family into YOUR previously peaceful neighborhood, and as long as the residents don't "break their lease," they can do as they please. Yes, that's correct - even though Habitat for Humanity owns the property!! Theoretically, once the recipient family has passed whatever "thorough" screening process our local Habitat chapter requires, and then sign their lease, they could dance naked in their backyard singing praises to Satan if they so desire. Hey... "This isn't a communist country, you know" the Habitat board members remind the hapless neighbors. The lucky Habitat tenant can feel free to invite eight or more additional people to live with them if they so desire.
So, exactly what kinds of clauses are contained in a Habitat for Humanity lease? Well, it seems to be a closely guarded secret, since no specifics were ever provided to the neighbors who attended a meeting with the Van Wert County board despite repeated inquiries. However, the end result is that the neighbors are left to fend for themselves - Habitat for Humanity of Van Wert County claims they can't do a thing. Remember their motto - "This isn't a communist country, you know."
Yes, it is up to the neighbors to spend their own hard-earned cash to pay for medical costs incurred from a dog attack by one of the unlicensed animals owned by the "family" living in the Habitat for Humanity home. By the way, the Habitat for Humanity of Van Wert County board of directors were warned of their tenant's dangerous dogs at one of their meetings over a year prior to the attack!!
Of course, the dog in question did not have a current (or even recent) rabies vaccination: The bite victim had to endure the many days of uncertainty waiting for state health officials to notify her of the test results!! THANK GOD the test results were negative for rabies.
Oh, yeah - Habitat for Humanity of Van Wert's County's lawyer said the unfortunate attack victim was out of luck in having Habitat pay for the mounting medical costs. Regardless of what the many local newspaper articles and the Habitat for Humanity literature says, these people are not "homeowners" at all - they are tenants! These renters sign a 30-day renewable lease - at least that is what the Habitat for Humanity of Van Wert County's lawyer said at an August 12, 2002 board of directors meeting. This is the basis for how Habitat for Humanity of Van Wert County claims they are "off the hook" for the dog attack victim's medical expenses! The attack was by their renter's dogs - so Habitat for Humanity has no obligation, legally. How about morally? Oh, dear - we must have forgotten ... this is supposed to be a Christian organization.
Anyhow, what recourse does this dog bite victim have? Spend her own money to hire a lawyer in an attempt to recover her medical expenses from the Habitat house residents. Does the saying, "You can't get blood from a turnip" ring a bell? Apparently not to the Habitat for Humanity of Van Wert County's board, who only send their condolences.
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Here is the arm of a neighbor who was attacked in July 2002 (in her own yard) by an unlicensed dog owned by the Habitat family. The Habitat for Humanity of Van Wert County's board of directors was warned of their tenant's aggressive dogs over a year prior to this attack. As you might guess, the dog was unvaccinated as well. This photo was taken two days after the attack. The dog had escaped from the Habitat family's yard following a storm. The county dog warden indicated that this dog had displayed aggression in the past. The victim incurred a bite of similar nature to the leg as well. At this time, it appears that the victim will have to pay for her own medical expenses. I guess there's always "Judge Judy" since Habitat for Humanity refuses to help. |
If you rented a house in the "real world," most landlords would have no reservations telling you to get rid of your junk cars, cut your grass, pick up the trash out of your yard, etc. - even if those little points of common decency weren't specifically mentioned in your lease. HOWEVER, if you are lucky enough to get a Habitat for Humanity house in Van Wert County, you needn't worry - you can have as many dogs and junk cars as you like! Go ahead - throw trash all over your yard (and don't think twice about whether that trash is going to blow all over the neighborhood or not.) And believe us - it happens! Habitat for Humanity says that the neighbors must take care of the problem themselves. Yes, the neighbors can hire lawyers, attempt to pressure ineffective local officials into enforcing ordinances, etc., etc., etc.... just don't ask Habitat for Humanity for help!
We freely recognize that Habitat for Humanity has helped many deserving families. If you were to look at most of the Habitat houses in Van Wert County, you will find families who really value the opportunity they were given. They take great pride in their new homes and are good neighbors and good citizens. And everyone in our neighborhood used to think that Habitat for Humanity was a good idea.
However, WHEN things don't go as Habitat for Humanity of Van Wert County intends, who suffers? That's right - the ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD!!! If the "good" that Habitat for Humanity of Van Wert County does outweighs the harm done by their mistakes, then our neighborhood is sort of a "sacrificial lamb" for all that good. Funny thing is - none of us remember volunteering for lamb duty. Again we ask - is this the how a supposedly Christian organization operates?
The local Habitat for Humanity president professes how sorry she is for the problems which have arisen from this home. However, "You're not going to like what I have to say" was a common theme at the meeting these unfortunate neighbors attended in August 2002. The gist? YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN! Oh, boy - sure makes you want to have one next door to you, doesn't it? I wonder how many Habitat for Humanity of Van Wert County board of directors have a Habitat house in their neighborhood?
There is one positive that has come from our neighborhood's ongoing ordeal - we get to meet MANY law enforcement officers that we would never have known otherwise!!!
This Habitat for Humanity house certainly improves the old neighborhood, eh? Try to sell your house with THIS next door!
There's no place like home!
SCARY (but true) UPDATES
In what may be an attempt to legitimize this property, Habitat for Humanity of Van Wert County issued a mortgage to the "habitants." Of course, this occurred in December of 2002 - months after the dog attack. Just curious - why did Habitat For Humanity of Van Wert County wait for over two-and-one-half years before initializing this action? That is how long the current "habitaters" have occupied the dwelling. Could it be that this web site brought negative publicity to bear on the local Habitat group? "The truth shall set you free?" Paperwork was not recorded at the county courthouse until April 1, 2003, however. Isn't it ironic that the house was transferred to the new "owners" for tax purposes on April Fool's Day? Loud, profanity-filled bon fires are now regularly taking place in the wee hours as the "habitaters" and their denizens celebrate their good fortune. Wish we had the beer concession at these hootin' nannies - we could all retire in style!
In municipal court last fall, the "owner" of the vicious dog pleaded "no contest" to a variety of charges in regards to the July 2002 dog attack. Part of the sentence included reimbursement of medical costs. Failure to comply within 30 days would result in jail time. The MINIMUM payment was made on the deadline date issued by the judge.
Junk yard cars are tucked away in the yard for the winter. Maybe the neighbors should sell chances as to when they will be brought out of hibernation to add their festive decor to our formerly peaceful neighborhood? Yes, a herd of demolition derby cars and the team of profanity-spewing mechanics are a sure sign of spring in our neighborhood.
One of the many unfortunate neighbors, tired of the Habitat family backing vehicles onto his property and tearing up his land, has erected steel posts to (hopefully) alleviate this problem
Ever wonder how many people can live a 1000 square foot, three bedroom house with one bathroom? We do, too! Is it 9 - 10 - even more?
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~Summer 2005~
Since there are now less than 10 people living in the Habitat House/commune once more, it must not feel quite like home.
Sooooo - IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER DERBY CAR! Yes, the denizens are gathering, and once again the "F" word is flying. Lots of very loud pounding and banging, too. Most good neighbors do that, don't they? What? You mean most families don't swear constantly while they beat on metal and glass? They don't rev the engines of cars without mufflers? Habitat must think that they do! Thanks Habitat for Humanity of Van Wert County! The neighbors just love you. I bet you don't get many donations from our town.
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~2007~
The photos at the top speak volumes. Remember this was AFTER a major cleanup ordered by the village. Don't you wish these folks lived in your neighborhood? Maybe Habitat can help improve your neighborhood, too!
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~2008~
Habitat sweet home! The intense pride of ownership continues to be seen in the photo at the top of the page. Don't break your arms patting yourself on the back for this house, Habitat for Humanity of Van Wert County!
