By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
St. Joseph Habitat for Humanity’s latest house, its 73rd, is different than nearly all its others.
The house built on Harvard Street for Kelly Derks is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
And he is thrilled.
“It was amazing. It was awesome. It was a good feeling,” Derks tells St. Joseph Post.
Derks was paralyzed in an accident and now is confined to a wheelchair.
He admits he never thought this would happen.
“It is the American dream. It’s the ultimate,” Derks says. “You always want to own your own home. You always think about owning your own home.”
St. Joseph Habitat Executive Director Cate Manley says it took three years and 760 hours of volunteer work to complete it.
“I think it’s an extraordinary home and we’ve been really blessed by over 100 volunteers that came out and helped us to build this home,” Manley tells us. “Tons of contractors and people from churches. Over 12 groups came out.”
Manley calls it a very special project for Habitat for Humanity. She says it has been a long time since Habitat tackled building an ADA compliant house.
Derks approves of the finished product.
“Well, I like the open floor plan and the fact that it’s all wheelchair accessible, handicapped accessible, for my needs,” Derks says. “That makes life a little easier and much better.”
Though it took three years to build when the normal construction timeline for a Habitat house is one year, the extra time was well worth it, according to Manley.
“It’s a big blessing, but a lot of times there are obstacles with that type of blessing.” Manley says. “We feel blessed by the build of the home and really blessed by Kelly and the ability of finally turn the keys over to him.”
