After Scott, Kancie and Vivien Orris raised the American flag in front of their new house Saturday, Kancie smiled and commented, “I call it the cozy cottage on Congress.”
The cozy cottage Kancie Orris was referring to has been home to her family since it was constructed over two years ago in Bradford by the McKean County Habitat for Humanity organization.
In October, the couple and their young daughter will have lived in the house at 277 Congress St. for two years. The couple, who work in the community, had rented a home in the past as purchasing a house with a 20 percent down payment had been out of their financial reach.
That is until they heard about Habitat for Humanity through their pastor at church. She said Rev. Lee Beckes, former pastor of First Presbyterian Church, had served on the Habitat board and advised the couple to apply. As they were competing for the house against two other finalists, they weren’t sure if they would be selected.
“My best friend was getting married and I was out shopping for a dress and (Habitat) called me” with the news they had been chosen for the house, she remembers. “I was so excited that I started crying.”
And just like that, Scott, who works at Beacon Light Behavioral Health System, and Kancie, who works at Hamlin Bank, were owners of their own house after 10 years of hoping and dreaming of becoming homeowners. She said her older son, Ethan Trott who is now away at college, was also pleased the family was getting a home of their own.
The 1,300-square-foot home, which comprises three bedrooms and two bathrooms, was built through the efforts of the county Habitat for Humanity, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Habitat and campus athletes. Students at the Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center of Port Allegany built the outer shell of the home.
“It was life-changing, it cut our rent in half,” she continued. “Even with the taxes (and utilities) added on, it was life-changing.”
She said they have an interest-free mortgage on the house and were required to provide a 1 percent down payment on the structure. The couple has been required to provide “sweat equity” work in the home that included inside finishing work.
“The shell of the house was done, so all the inside stuff, the drywall, the floors, painting, wiring, lights and fixtures” were completed by the Orrises and others, she recalled, noting they added a back deck and sidewalks later. The couple also volunteers at community events and functions with the work counted toward their required sweat equity.
Over the past several months, the final touches have been added to the house, including landscaping donated by Graham’s Greenhouse & Landscaping. A flagpole was also placed in the front yard, and a small flowering crab tree, planted in the front yard, was donated to the family by a neighbor.
There have also been other gifts from unknown neighbors, such as a couple of potted mums left on their front steps. All the gifts have made them feel more than welcome in their new neighborhood.
Habitat board member Pat Buccolini said the organization is pleased with the outcome of the Orris household and hopes the family’s success will inspire others to help the organization.
Specifically, donations would be appreciated as the organization would like to help other families, too.
“The hope with Habitat, or their motto is, ‘a hand up, not a hand out,’” Kancie Orris added. “Their hope is that whoever they do help will help the next family, and so on.”
McKean County Habitat for Humanity is a Christian housing organization and became affiliated with Habitat for Humanity International in 2009. The county Habitat for Humanity is also affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Habitat. It was noted that the first Habitat for Humanity home built on Interstate Parkway in Bradford is currently available to be filled by another family.
For more information, or to donate or volunteer with the organization, send letters to: McKean County Habitat for Humanity, P.O. Box 292, Bradford, Pa. 16701.
