OAKLAND, Maine (WABI) - The Waterville Area Habitat for Humanity and other local companies are building a house for a veteran. After a recent announcement that the Waterville Habitat for Humanity ReStore would be closing at the end of July, they decided to pivot their main focuses on building and repairing houses for people in need.

This Oakland house is going to a veteran, and Habitat staff are thrilled to be a part of the construction.

“It’s a very satisfying feeling to put a roof over someone’s head,” claimed Waterville Area Habitat for Humanity executive director Peter Phair. “It’s a great feeling to be a part of a community that is focused on improving someone’s life whether it’s one family at a time or an entire community.”

Habitat for Humanity is stressing that with the state of housing, now is the most important time to be giving back in the form of housing.

“Our programs and programs similar to ours are very, very needed. they are necessary,” stated Phair. “We’ve got housing crises in every city in the state, every city in the country seems to be experiencing some kind of a housing crisis. So, to be able to put one family in a home is a help towards that, but certainly not enough.”

TimberHP and other local companies offer up their help to Habitat for Humanity for free.

“It’s just a special feeling to assist somebody to be able to be in their own home, and there’s something very special about homeownership, and especially since it’s in our backyard,” said TimberHP sales manager Scott Johnston. “We’ve done a number of different habitat projects all throughout New England, but as I said, this was literally a couple of minutes from our doorstep, so it’s even more important.”

The employees of the wood fiber insulation company volunteered their time to work on the site, finding it satisfying work as well as a day that might benefit their other work.

“We’re really excited to be invited here by Habitat for Humanity. We saved product for them for this project and the goal of today was not only to come out and help them but to bring some employees from the manufacturing facility, work with the product, feel the product and really learn how we can make this product even better,” mentioned TimberHP operations manager Jessica Vigneault.

The recipient of the house is a young veteran with children. For some, there’s a lot of pride in building this house.

“It is a great honor. I am a veteran myself, so I have a lot of respect for folks that have given their service to the country. We are an organization that really is focused on being part of our community, and veterans are a part of the group,” concluded Phair.

The key ceremony for this house is scheduled for this upcoming fall. To learn more or donate to the any Habitat for Humanity in the state of Maine, visit here.

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