Let the building begin for the community’s sake
Published 12:00 am Thursday, July 28, 2005
May the building begin. Now that Habitat of South Hampton Roads and Angela Koncz, former project manager of the Suffolk chapter, appear to have ironed out their differences, perhaps Habitat and Koncz’s new organization, Building Suffolk Inc., can refocus on their respective missions of bringing affordable housing to Suffolk.
Although Habitat volunteers have been busy completing a house on Charles Street, the project has been marred in recent weeks by an ongoing dispute between Koncz and regional Habitat officials. The regional organization ousted Koncz in May after learning of her plans to create the competing nonprofit.
It’s too bad it took a trip to court to satisfy unanswered questions between Koncz and Habitat. Although everything went on behind closed doors, we can only assume that the handshake between the two parties in Suffolk Circuit Court Thursday is indicative of a truce.
That’s a good thing.
With all the growth in Suffolk and the average new home here costing upwards of $200,000 these days, the need for affordable housing in this city has never been greater. There’s certainly enough housing needs in the city for both Habitat and Building Suffolk to stay busy.
We just hope the political squabbles between the two groups won’t have a negative impact on fundraising in and volunteer recruitment.
Meanwhile, it’s time both organizations get back to the business of building houses so that more families in Suffolk can obtain a piece of the American dream.