Ken Johnson (in grey) said that after building roughly 180 houses with Habitat for Humanity, he has never been as proud of a homeowner as he is of Patrick Maldarelli (left). (Jonathan Cox/CorneliusNews.net)
By JONATHAN COX
CorneliusNews.net
Patrick and Carolina Maldarelli crossed the threshold into their new North Ferry Street home Sunday, after months building it with the help of a team of volunteers from Davidson United Methodist Church and Habitat for Humanity.
Every year Davidson United Methodist Church contributes the funds and volunteers to build a Habitat for Humanity home in the area – this year these resources went to built the Maldarelli house. The town of Cornelius contributed funds to buy the lot, and paid to demolish the existing home. Dozens of volunteers and Habitat staff helped pour the foundation, erect the frame, and build the home.
Patrick (center, in white t-shirt) helps raise the frame of his home (Habitat for Humanity photo)
The Maldarellis also played a central role in the construction of the home, contributing a total of 400 hours of sweat equity.
“And you really do sweat!” Maldarelli said. “People sometimes have a misconception that with Habitat for Humanity … you can just walk in and they’ll give you a house. But you have to be willing to be a partner.”
Maldarelli first volunteered with Habitat after graduating from Mitchell Community College. His first volunteer project was to help build a house on North Ferry Street in the neighborhood he now calls home.
Patrick and his family – his wife Carolina, daughter Sarah, and sons Sammy and Marcos – had moved into a home in Statesville just before the economic recession hit in 2008. At the time, Patrick said he would not have imagined that he would need help getting housing. “I never actually thought that I would be a recipient of a Habitat for Humanity home.”
Patrick had only had his job with the Cornelius Police Department for a year when the recession hit. “My wages didn’t keep up with the cost of living,” he said. “Gas was up to almost $4 a gallon, and just commuting back and forth to work was tough.”
No longer able to afford his Statesville home, Patrick turned to Habitat for Humanity. He had to meet certain credit requirements and agree to contribute 400 hours in “sweat equity” – work to earn ownership of the house. Once the Maldarellis met these requirements, the work progressed quickly. In July they started work on the home, the walls were raised in August, and last Sunday Patrick and his family entered their new home for the first time as owners.
The Maldarellis’ new home is the latest of several Habitat houses on North Ferry Street (Jonathan Cox/CorneliusNews.net)
A CHANGING NEIGHBORHOOD
Their home is one of several Habitat houses on North Ferry Street. Maldarelli said that the partnership between Habitat for Humanity and many of the neighborhood’s residents has built a stronger sense of community.
Ken Johnson, a former FBI agent who now works as a construction supervisor for Our Towns Habitat for Humanity, said a stronger community on North Ferry means less crime. “When we first started building here, there was so much gangster type activity, drug activity, that we were concerned about our materials [being stolen],” he said. “Now I stack stuff along the fence and nothing goes missing.”
Johnson has built roughly 180 homes over his time with Habitat for Humanity, but the Maldarellis’ home held special significance for him.
“I have never built a house that I was as proud of the owner as I am of Patrick,” he said. “He has diligently worked with us, I’m sure for well over 400 hours.”
For Patrick Maldarelli, the community has helped him when he found himself unexpectedly in need. “It’s amazing when you’re in need and the community comes together.”
RELATED COVERAGE
See our past coverage of Habitat for Humanity.
Oct. 30, 2014, “Our Towns Habitat and Iredell affiliate merging”
