[Patrick1]

You get what you pay for.

[wac3rd]

Do-gooders done in by the trial lawyers, ironic, yes?

[Philo1962]

Habitat for Humanity has been putting up sloppy construction for a long, long time. “Sweat equity” is a wonderful idea in theory, but when you put it into practice, you get single moms who have never held a power tool before, trying to build their own homes. And as we see here, the construction sites often leave a lot to be desired.

The resulting “house” has a life expectancy of about 10-15 years before the health department comes in and condemns it.

[Jeliota]

We actually have an area in my town, Knoxville, that was redeveloped by the government from massive housing projects down to individual houses. These were then sold to the former residents of the housing projects for essentially nothing on the idea that if they “owned” the homes they would feel a sense of pride. What they actually did was to band together and sue the construction companies for things like misaligned wallpaper.

[webschooner]

Everything Carter has touched turns to shiite.

[Lorianne]

Sigh. I’ve seen a number of these Habitat for Humanity homes go to ruin very quickly. The reason is not only that they are built quickly and cheaply.

Buildings take maintenance, even good buildings. So do cars, clothes, etc. Some people get that. Others just don’t.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

but if these people were buying their homes instead of occupying free ones, it's a safe bet some would have asked.

Some maybe. But is "did this land used to be a garbage dump?" a usual question when you are buying a home?

[kcvl]

April Charney

member of NACA - National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA) is a nationwide organization of more than 1000 attorneys

April Charney is a consumer lawyer with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid since 2004. Being one of more than 30 attorneys with JALA gives April the opportunity to pursue consumer law in many directions. She advocates against all manner of predatory consumer practices. During 2005-2006 the Consumer Unit of JALA defended over $10 million dollars worth of homes from foreclosure in Northeast Florida.

In Arkansas, while in private practice many clients paid her fees with money carried in their boots, after digging up the buried funds from their land. April says her best success with jury trials was during pregnancy. And once, she tried a case for an unrepresented litigant at the court’s request, while her two year old son sat on the judge’s lap.

NACA which charges a fee to the 'client' and the mortgage holder. In other words, it ain't free as in 'advocate' for 'the poor' for nothing.

[tiki]

Around here you have to help raise the money and work alongside everyone else.

[PieterCasparzen]

back in the 90’s h4h was building houses in newark, nj.

it took months, years to build them because materials were stolen as fast as they were built.

why we would want to build houses when there are too many at this point is a good question.

can’t stop “helping” though, when you look so good doing it.

[Global2010]

I know a woman for many decades now who bought her home through Habitat for Humanity.

It was not free it was affordable mortgage payments and she was a hard working (still is) woman in the fish industry.

She did not raise her kids alone by choice and again she was/is not a free loader.

Maybe Habitat works different in New Orleans.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Perfect metaphor for the man and his legacy.

[PGalt]

JC (Jhimmi the Dhimmi that is) gives carpenters a bad name.

Perhaps these poor people can shack up at the Edward’s estate or the Kennedy compound.