Community Corner

Mineola Family Welcomed to Rebuilt Home

Clarkin family moves into new home built by Habitat for Humanity suited for needs.

For several months residents have been asking what activity was going on , noticing a large “Habitat for Humanity” sign and construction slowly proceeding along.

The construction came to an end Friday as Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano joined Mineola and representatives from Habitat for Humanity in a ribbon-cutting ceremony this past Friday, welcoming the 12-member Clarkin family, seven of whom are developmentally disabled, back to their rebuilt home.

When the Clarkin parents passed away, the siblings took over the home, which fell into a state of disrepair.

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The family relocated when a pipe burst, flooding the main living area and causing severe structural damage. The non-disabled siblings decided that the home needed to be completely rebuilt and sought out funding sources and support. Only six disabled siblings will be living in the home. 

The reconstruction was made possible through a public-private partnership between Nassau County, Habitat for Humanity of Nassau County (HFHNC) and the Disability Opportunity Fund (DOF).

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Habitat for Humanity of Nassau County took over the repairs on the house and began construction in May 2011, thanks to $175,000 in Federal funds from the County’s HOME Investment Partnership Program and a $150,000 line of credit and help with appliance and material purchases from the DOF, along with volunteers from throughout Nassau County.

“Thanks to cooperative efforts of government, non-for-profits, the private sector, and our local communities, the Clarkin family will have the safe and comfortable home they deserve. It’s because of the hard work of so many volunteers that they will remain together as a family in the house they grew up in,” County Executive Mangano said as he helped to cut the ribbon on the new home. “I am pleased that Nassau County was able to provide funding to move this project forward and I am pleased to welcome the Clarkin family to this wonderful new home.”

The new home is energy-star rated and uses “aging-in-place” design concepts that will increase the likelihood that the Clarkins can remain independent. The designs include wider doorways and staircases to accommodate wheelchairs and wheelchair lifts and state-of-the-art technology to allow for the future installation of cameras and an intercom system if necessary.

“It has been a long road, but the Clarkins are finally home,” Charlie Hammerman, President and CEO of the Disability Opportunity Fund said. 


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