Neighbors celebrate dedication of two Habitat homes in Norwich
Jan. 11—NORWICH — With prayers said, tears shed, volunteers thanked, gifts presented and accomplishments applauded, 4-year-old Sinead Rojas cut the ribbon across the front porch On Monday and helped his mother turn the key to open the door of his family's new home.
Inside, Sinead jumped up and down, sporting a broad smile and ran down the hall to her new bedroom. Her two older brothers, Jaiden, 13, and Daetrinn, 16, were cooler, as they scoped out their bedroom and planned how to arrange their beds and furniture. Their mother, Siobhan Brannen of Norwich, chuckled as she recalled working in 90-degree summer heat helping to install the siding on the house.
Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut celebrated a dual dedication Monday of the 97th and 98th homes the agency has completed in New London and Windham counties. The houses, connected by a shared utility shed, at 48 Sylvester St. and 47 Margerie St., are part of a 10-home construction project on what had been vacant land between the two streets in the city's Greeneville section.
More than 30 people gathered Monday in Kerri Sosinski's new kitchen. Sosinski, of Lebanon, and her children, Finnegan, 7, and Griffin, 11, will move in once the closing on their mortgage with Habitat is completed.
Sosinski choked back tears several times as she thanked the dozens of people who helped her build the house and worked alongside her days and nights.
"What better way to own a home than to build it," Sosinski said, "because then you know the bones of your house. ... The energy in this house is amazing, and I know it will be healing for Griffin, because it's going to give us a chance to really have our own space and live our own lives."
Griffin, who uses a wheelchair, is terminally ill with a condition called Sanfilippo Syndrome, a rare genetic metabolism disorder. He undergoes multiple therapies and visits doctors frequently.
Sosinski said she looks forward to being in a neighborhood of caring families to provide a strong social network for her and her children. She said the future residents already are talking about creating a community garden and finding ways to "keep each other safe." She looks forward to helping build her neighbors' houses as well.
Sosinski has worked multiple jobs over the years, most recently in restaurants and food services. But she was laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic and now is attending the University of Connecticut to learn computer web design and coding.
Brannen, also a single mother, works as an attendance and extended learning coordinator for Norwich Public Schools. She started their Habitat application process in July 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
She put in far more construction hours than required for a Habitat home, and even said she might want to go into the construction field — but not painting, she emphasized. "All my clothes are ruined."
During Monday's dedication, each family received a toolkit, a bible, a handmade quilt, gifted by United Methodist Church of Gales Ferry, and a handmade prayer shawl, gifted by Poquonnock Bridge Baptist Church of Groton.
Monday's dedication was special for multiple reasons. It was the first time since 2009 that the local Habitat agency celebrated a dual dedication of completed homes. And for Habitat Executive Director Terri O'Rourke, Monday marked her last day on the job as she enters retirement. She handed the keys to the agency over to Sarah Lufler, incoming CEO.
The city of Norwich became a partner in the project this fall, when the City Council approved a plan by City Manager John Salomone to allocate $1.2 million of the city's American Rescue Plan grant to Habitat in an affordable housing partnership. Of that, $360,000 covered a gap in financing to finish the construction of the 10 new homes on Sylvester and Margerie streets. Another $840,000 will fund rehabilitation of an estimated seven dilapidated houses the city either has taken or will acquire through tax foreclosures or abandonment.
Habitat is investing $1.56 million in non-city money into the Greeneville subdivision. O'Rourke said the subdivision is currently the only construction project underway by the eastern Connecticut agency.
O'Rourke invoked what she called "the theology of the hammer" Monday to illustrate how people of many diverse ethnic backgrounds, religious and political beliefs can work side by side with a common purpose to build homes for families.
"Whatever that difference is that divides us," O'Rourke said, "putting a hammer and nails in your hands and using it to build a house like this, it would hard for you to remain angry about something while you're standing right next to someone."
