Sunday, December 21, 2008

When Hurricane Georges leveled the Halcyon Trailer Park on Big Pine Key in 1998, no one foresaw the good that would come from the vacant lot strewn with beer cans and at least one hypodermic needle.

No one, that is, except for the founders of the Lower Keys chapter of Habitat for Humanity. They persuaded Monroe County to buy the land, and were able, five years later, to welcome 15 families into 15 new homes.

The families received no-interest mortgages and put 350 hours of "sweat equity" into the construction of their own home, as well as those of their neighbors.

One of those families had to leave the Florida Keys and their move has helped yet another family. Lou and Kay VanDeGejuchte moved into the vacated Habitat Landing home this week with their 5-year-old granddaughter, Lizzy, who has lived with them since she was 6 months old.

The nonprofit organization held a home dedication for the VanDeGejuchtes Thursday evening.

When Habitat officials learn a home will be vacated -- there have been three, but the VanDeGejuchtes are the first to move in -- the organization's Family Selection Committee springs into action, said Susan Miller, Habitat's director of operations. The VanDeGejuchte family was already on file with the organization, which made the process easier.

Miller did not live in the Keys when Habitat Landing was dedicated to the first 15 families, so she is thrilled to welcome a new family into one of the homes.

The three-bedroom house has a new paint job, new floors and soon will have an elevator for Lizzy, who was born with cerebral palsy.

Home ownership was a long time coming for the VanDeGejuchtes. They moved to the Florida Keys 16 years ago and lived in a rental home on Big Pine Key until it burned to the ground nearly two years ago.

"We had already applied for another Habitat house that was being vacated, but the application burned in the fire," Lou VanDeGejuchte said. "We were living in an apartment that the hospital in Marathon had let us use. We had really wanted one of the Habitat homes because people with cerebral palsy have a hard time with change," he said. "And this ... provided a permanent place for Lizzy. Also, if something happens to us, she'll have the home to live in with her caregiver."

This will be the first home the family has ever owned, and Lizzy was exploring her new bedroom even before the furniture was there.

"It's kind of intimidating with the insurance and mortgage payments, but we're just hoping for the best," said Lou VanDeGejuchte, who works in the construction business and still volunteers for anything Habitat needs done. His wife, Kay, works for an obstetrician in Key West, Lou said.

"Lou has done so much work around here," Miller said. "They've been sprucing up that house for months."

VanDeGejuchte said the family is happy to be there.

"Lizzy absolutely loves it," he said. "We're looking forward to spending the rest of our lives here."

Elsewhere in the county, another group of families already is becoming neighbors while readying a vacant lot on Big Coppitt Key for their new community.

Bayside Landing will feature 18 town houses built to imitate Key West's historic architecture. The organization has received the building permits for the space and currently is installing utilities and infrastructure on the property.

mbolen@keysnews.com