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  • Report:  #1098537

Complaint Review: Habitat For Humanity Fairfield Coastal County - Bridgeport Connecticut

Reported By:
TBOC - stratford, Connecticut,
Submitted:
Updated:

Habitat For Humanity Fairfield Coastal County
1542 Barnum Avenue Bridgeport, 06615 Connecticut, USA
Phone:
203.333.2642
Web:
http://www.habitatcfc.org/
Categories:
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good? What's this?

In December 8, 2004, I was so excited to sign my closing in a room with Lawyers and Habitat Representatives. We were excited about a "ministry" helping us into our first home and didn't think to have lawyer present with me.  I was never told to have a lawyer at closing.  My first experience and the worst mistake in my life. Everything always begins great, wonderful, like a dream!!!  Habitat had wonderful volunteers help build our homes on our street.  Nineteen families living in Duplex homes on a New Street.  We all were excited.  Not before long, problem occured concerning flooding in basements, leaks in walls and plumbing issues. Certain Neighbors began to sell Habitat back their homes due to how they showed partiality fixing certain people homes oppose to others.  I began to complain about issues after loosing furniture due to basement flooding. They did come to place sun pump in the basement of my home and then dug in the yard to try and stop flooding in my basement.   Meanwhile, shower leaks kept keeping first and second floor wet.  All in 2005 - 2006.  Had to replace new kitchen and living room flooring .  Water bill was trippled due to leaks and plumbing issues.  Energy bill was not normal.  They began to ignore my emails.  2007, I ran into financial issues due to out-of-pocket cost from home and a loss of second income (child support).  I explained to them my issues how it was hard for me to afford the unstable home.  They held a fundraiser using my daughter's name on flyers.  They exploited my situation and the hardship I faced which lead them to get sustantial amount of donations from the fundraiserthat evening.  Couple of days later on June 23, 2009, Habitat called me in the office to notify me how excited they were about how my girls performance, and then conveyed several individuals personally donated monies towards helping me catch up with my mortgage due to loss of income. Same night and same breath, they met with me to take out second mortgage agreement increasing it $212.54.  My monthly mortgage went from $610.00 which went up to $823.35.  Talking about kicking a person while they are down.SMH  Sounds Nuts I would accept such deceptive heartless agreement from a so call ministry.  I realized it was in God's plan.  None the less,  I was grateful for the low payement but got extremely hard after loosing income, out-of-pocket repairs and high utility bills due to how house was built.   {By the way, till this day, I do not know how much the generous-kind people at First Congrational Church in Fairfiled, CT donated to our family because Habitat kept it.}   December 9, 2009, Plumbing issues caused flooding in second floor bathroom and downstairs kitchen while sleeping overnight.    State Farm was called. A week or two later, they inspected my home.  They were made aware of leakage in walls in 2005-2006 and began to blame builders for plumbing too.  The inspector made me aware that the Neighbors across from me experienced the same things. (Just Note: we had no neighborhood association to acknowledge these issues).   Both Habitat and State Farm played the blame game.   Meanwhile, my girls were living in rooms with sub-floors.   State Farm only paid 1/3 of what my professional contractor inspected.  Alltech tested my home for mold. Mold was found.  State Farm would not accept responsiblity for anything the builders (Habitat) done in new home.  Habitat ignored me.  I contacted the State of Connecticut cosummers affair to report my issues.  To no avail!!  I cried out and meanwhile my stress began to kick in.  Habitat came to my home only to gather a case for them.  They never offered help.   2011, I dropped State Farm as my insurance, Got with my own insurance, paid my own taxes and refuse to acknowledge Habitat. I was spending monies to try and prevent mold from spreading and repairing damages.  January, 2013, became unemployed.  February 2013,Gas valve and expansion tank gave way.  Daughters lived in utter cold foracoupl of days until I could afford to purchased space heaters.  I waited for my unemployment to kick in then had a TIA (stroke).  Unemployment finally came in in March 2013 and was able to fix the gas valve situation.   Habitat filed for strict forclosure June of 2013.  I went to court and he Judges judgement  was that I sell the home in 6 months to obtain my equity I spent throughout the years in home.  I contacted a short sell broker to quickly sell my home.  October, a buyer and myself signed an agreement for them to purchase my home and I would give them $6000.00 at closing for cosmetic repairs.  Inspection was passed by their Realator.  We are waitng for appraisal.  Meanwhile,  Habitat filed vacate of judgement from me selling home.  Reopened a date of Nov. 4th for strict forclosure.  I contacted my attorney.  Attorney contacted them and Habitat claimed I had a second mortgage with Westport National Bank of equal amount of $87,000.00 + $87,000.00.  My Attorney put breaks on selling my home to buyers Attorney.  I brought in paperwork of my closing to my attorney proving their claim was false. In my Conditional Grant Agreement for  The Affordable Housing Program, If I sold my home within 5 years than I would had to pay them back both mortgages so profits were not made by homeowner.  After 5 years, we are free to sell home to anyone and collect equity after first allowing them to buy it back.  Nov. 1, 2013, Habitat postponed Strict Forclosure to now resolve issues between us.   Week went by and buyer is getting impatient.  Habitat tactics is to delay and discourage.  I contact my Attorney to see what is going on in which he stated they do not see my crucial paperwork in their land files.  My thoughts, "they really do not want to ressolve this issues but think of what next to do."    I am ready to move and be emancipated from this confusion and corruption.  The only one to profit from this ordeal would be Habitat.  This house was built by the community for free.  I paid Westport National bank the $8000.00 I owed for plumbing, fixtures, refridgerator, stove, washer, dryer and electrical work.  Habitat will receive a profit of $76,000.00 plus several thousands in Attorney fees if sold.  TOTAL PROFIT!!!  If they are entitled to Strict Forclosure, they will have total control over my property I invested which is worth $130,000.00.  If I am proven right in court on the 18th of November, I pray I can still sell my home to get back what I spent on external & internal repairs.  It is so sad seeing my neighbors putting in hard equity hours building their homes and investing their money only for Habitat to ignore them, have them sell it back to them, then repair it and give to another family to enjoy.  Not fair to those who was told they would receive an affordable, safe-environmental home by Habitat.  Who are the ones to truly Benefit..... Habitat's executives with their 6 figure salary and their attorneys.  This is a busines....NOT A MINISTRY. Even Scouge wouldn't be so mean trying to kick out a family during Holiday Seasons. I do not see the HUMANITY.        



1 Updates & Rebuttals

TBOC

stratford,
Connecticut,
correcting a misquote and update

#2Author of original report

Sat, August 09, 2014

(Following up on a misquote and would like to be more clear. In the paragraph concerning the $8000.00, the money was granted to me on behalf of Westport National Bank given to Habitat for Humanity with a promise of a 5 year retention which covered appliances, fixures, etc.). This money was added in foreclosure worksheet even though I fullfilled the 5 year retention. Thank God I was able to show my proof about the $8000.00 or else that money would have been included in foreclosure. Lastly, I will keep an update on this case as it is winding down. They had to replace lawyers at this time. Many others are going through this same ordeal and fighting back in court concerning Habitat flipping homes, bullying tactics, unethical practices, fraud and corruption. .

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