Art it's funny that you bring up Habitat ... I was just taking a cruise through the world wide web and well I was wondering why a one time thriving service has been reduced to a student/faculty club at the University of Scranton who only answer phone calls and emails once a week as opposed to the funcitoning office they used to have.


Habitat for Humanity/Lacka Cnty, Inc.

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Address550 Madison Avenue
Scranton, PA 18510-2497
Phone342-7911 leave message
HoursHours: Currently, we are not maintaining regular office hours.
Contact Person: Board of Directors check voice mail once a week.
All volunteer organization for now.

UofS habitat club contact: habitat@scranton.edu
ContactStudent Contact 06-07, Matt Tirella

DescriptionDESCRIPTION: Habitat for Humanity International is a non-profit,
ecumenical housing organization with over 1700 affiliates world
wide.

The Lackawanna County affiliate was organized in 1990 to
provide low-income families with the chance to own simple, decent
homes. Habitat relies on volunteers and donations to keep the
costs of its homes affordable. The homes are sold to approved
families, who pay interest free mortgages back to Habitat. The
money collected from the mortgage is reinvested into additional
homes for other qualifying families.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: HFH is looking for volunteers to assist
us in the following ways:

HFH needs volunteers to assist with construction
houses.

HFH also needs assistance in the office, completing
administrative tasks such as filing, copying, stuffing envelopes,
etc. Time commitment: Flexible

Most importantly, HFH needs volunteers to help at the site;
building, painting, landscaping, cleaning, and a variety of other
tasks. Work days are scheduled through the office, and advance
sign-up is encouraged, but not required.

FACULTY/STAFF VOLUNTEER: In addition to all previously mentioned
volunteer opportunities, faculty and staff are encouraged to
supervise workdays with students and volunteers to become
involved at the committee and board level.

Training is available as needed. In addition, general Habitat
information is available by contacting the Program Manager at the
Habitat office.

*Walking distance from the University of Scranton.

Art Gordon wrote:

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I also remember some bad press about a land deal in the upvalley or midvalley area. Ozzie wanted to undeveloped land and build a bunch of habitat houses. The problem was the proximity to a new development and upscale neighborhood. Archbald maybe - I don't totally remember.

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The issue with the habitat homes inArchbaldwasn't because there was anything wrong or fishy with the proposed habitat development, it was a case of the people up there with NIMBY syndrome. There was a uppity "McMansion" development nearby and the people that lived in that subdivision didn't want *GASP* "lower class" people living near their little Stepford Wives cul de sac.

Interesting:

-- Edited by Paul at 12:29, 2007-07-02

stachybotrys mold... Seems as though our Mr. Quinn wanted a family to move back into a home that was loaded with this mold ... as I read the story of this family (Thank you Paul for the link) I became more and more horrified as I went on ... this I'm thinking can not be the same man who seems to be so concerned for the taxpayers ... the little guy/gal ... the lower income people he is claiming to stand for .... the treatment he gave these people is disgusting ... and I have to wonder how it is he sleeps at night ... because I know that I sure wouldn't be able to.

Now what I truly am wondering ... these people occupied this home for nearly 6 years ... from what I am gathering after reading their story ... why were they never given a mortgage on the home? And what happened to all of the money that they invested into this home? I can't even believe this story and I haven't even read the others yet ... Ozzie how do you sleep at night?

Ok ... now after a trip to the TT archives ... I find this little gem ... It makes me wonder ... read it and you will maybe see what it is that leaves me wondering.

I just can't take seriously a man who insists on including his hickname in the middle of his signature. Either alone, is perfectly fine. But both together screams "identity crisis" and "attention whore".

-- Edited by Paul at 15:12, 2007-07-02

I would like to say thank you to Todd Pousley and Mat Tirella ... for bringing back Habitat for Humanity ...

Ozzie Quinn let this organization with $75,000 in debt and they lost the not for profit status ... Way to go Ozzie ... I sure am glad you are the watchdog for the taxpayers! (NOT)

These two young men mentioned have brought Habitat out of debt and regained the not for profit status ... they have been working on this since 2005.

I thank these fine young men for doing a job (voluntary) that Mr. Quinn was PAID to do ... Ozzie you should be ashamed of yourself ... and what I really wonder is this ... why does DD not ever utter a word about Ozzie and the shameful way he ran Habitat that led to the Chapter just about being dissolved ...

Anyway I read this yesterday and thought about it today .... thought it was worth a mention here ...

These two young men are students ... one from Maryowood and the other from the University. The TT had a really nice article about it on Tuesday in the Lifestyles section of the paper. I had not realized to what extent Mr. Quinns mismanagement of this organization was until reading the article.

Mr. Quinn walked away from it along with all of the board members ... the habitat homes were not being paid for ... meanwhile because there was no local chapter these homes that had already been built were accumulating debt for the Habitat office ... they closed in 2004 and by 2005 ... they were over $75,000 in debt. The bank had foreclosed on some homes ... the people didn't know who to pay for their homes as Mr. Quinn simply walked away ... 2 homes were condemned ... the one for Mold which we spoke of here on PD and the other was the home of the Smith family which had been condemned and then re done by habitat and then condemned again ... leading to bad publicity and Mr. Quinn walking away ... really sad and he has the taxpayers thinking that he has their best interests at heart ... I doubt it!

And I do have to wonder why it is Mr. Pilchesky ... who questions everything under the sun ... has never asked Mr. Quinn about this? Is it because Mr. Pilchesky has his very own CRONIES ... that must be it Mr. Quinn is a poster and a crony of Pilchesky's ... so we won't ever bring up Habitat for Humanity and how Mr. Quinn just about single handedly ruined such a great program that works everywhere else in this country ... everywhere but Scranton ... and hell they can't blame Doherty as Mr. Quinn hates Mr. Doherty ... so he didn't have anything to do with it. hmmmmmmm makes one wonder!

Thank you Ag ... I did forget to put up the link ...

I know what you mean ... I think that Ozzie Quinn should get the Hypocrite award.

Crony, he post under several different names. I believe there is alot more history about the wizzard of OZ, i wish someone had it and would pass it along. I heard it could make for some very interesting and embarrassing reading.

Well I went to DD this morning ... and my god it was like old times ... I found this bit of wisdom from Sam Patilla ... This cracked me right up and all I could think is I want this post to be in this thread ... and no before you think that they questioned the Wise and Wonder OZ ... they didn't ...

Sam Patilla Posts: 634 Date: Dec 28 2:23 AM, 2008

I've asked and asked of both Marie and Ozzie to run for one of those seats. We might have a chance of convincing Ozzie but Marie said NO! and it's not because of a lack of Interest, not many have shown that they not only care for the City as a whole but for each and everyone of her residents - Marie has other things on her plate which I believe will prevent her for seeking a seat on Council. That's why you haven't seen either one of their names on any of My proposed list [although those list only contain the names of those we know are running] and with that being said [until other candidates make their intnetions known], Pat Rogan still is a better choice than anyone backing doris and or receiving an endorsement from doris and her clan of sissy boyz and manly looking woe-menz! Other like Nelson and or Nancy K. would also make a viable option but can't hold one of those seats until they retire or leave the unions. So Mrs. Evans, Karen B., and Pat Rogan are the "BEST" of what we have to work with so far. Maybe Daniel will change his mind and opt to run - here's to HOPE [It's said to run enternal]!

Patilla thinks that putting Ozzie Quinn in a council seat would be a good idea ... Hell this guy put Habitat for Humanity out of business for almost 5 years in Lackawanna County ... He burried them in debt ... gave moldy homes to people and didn't give a rats ass that they got sick ... and he's going to care about the citizens of Scranton.

Oh he did give an undeserving family a home ... not one time but twice ... they showed that they could not afford the Habitat home and also that they WOULD NOT take care of it ... allowing their children to destroy the place ... not one time ... but twice .... hmmmmmm

Yeah Sam .... he walked away from Habitat leaving them in debt not making arrangements for the home owners to make their payments ... just walked away when things got tough ... so tell me ... is he going to make bad decisions for the City of Scranton ... and when someone questions him from the Podium about it ... get up and walk away after creating a sea of $hit ... my best guess and my opinion would be YES!

Your political brainstorming is more like a political brain FART!

here's a little more just in case: article from scranton times regarding habitat's restructuring:
RECENT MISMANAGEMENT

Habitat for Humanity builds affordable housing for low-income families. Its no-interest mortgages are set at $40,000 and the houses typically cost about $20,000 to build. Materials are donated.

Recipients are expected to put in at least 300 hours of sweat equity in the construction of their homes and must display a level of need and an ability to be able to repay their housing loans.

With the help of friends, family members and even students at the University of Scranton -- where she works as a cook making $9 an hour plus benefits -- Ms. Braswell said that since construction began in July she has put in more than 700 hours of sweat equity to build her home in South Scranton.

"There was a lot of love that was put into this house to make it happen," she said.

Created in 1990, Habitat's Lackawanna County affiliate has built or remodeled 26 homes. Twenty-four of those houses were built after it hired Robert "Ozzie" Quinn, a former Scranton assistant city planner, as its executive director in 1998.

It was Mr. Quinn who recommended layoffs for himself, Family Support Counselor Robin Decker and Construction Supervisor Bill Musgrave to Habitat's board on Nov. 21 to ease the affiliates financial struggles.

No longer with the organization, Mr. Quinn said he did not want to comment about Habitat's restructuring phase. However, Mr. Quinn said that he has been working in its office in his spare time to help Mr. Clarkson with the transition.

He also said that while he sees his layoff as permanent, he believes that the layoffs of Ms. Decker and Mr. Bill Musgrave will be temporary.

At the time of the layoffs, Mr. Clarkson called the cuts temporary. Heading into the New Year, he said he hopes to have the paid staff back by spring or summer. However, with the restructuring phase now beginning, he said there is no firm timeline for the staff's return.

Perhaps the affiliate's brightest achievement under Mr. Quinn's direction was the construction of 11 single-family homes on Meridian Avenue in West Scranton.

Habitat bought 2.7 acres that had been vacant for more than 25 years from the Scranton Redevelopment Authority for a dollar in 2001 and built the homes over a two-year period.

However, recently the nonprofit has faltered.

In July 2003, city inspectors condemned a Habitat home at 2517 N. Main Ave., after the utilities had been shut off and city inspectors found filth and damage inside it.

The 10-bedroom, two-family home had housed Charles and Barbara Smith and their 17 children at the time of its opening in March of 2000.

The unwieldy project inspired an increase in Habitat volunteers and received national media attention.

Mr. Quinn said then he wished Habitat had kept up better communication with the Smiths about subjects such as budgeting, home maintenance and parenting skills.

He then promoted Ms. Decker to full-time status to increase communication between Habitat families and the organization. With the help of Ms. Decker and donations from individuals outside of Habitat, the Smiths were able to move back into their home in December 2003.

In July, The Sunday Times reported that on March 28, 2003 city inspectors condemned the then home of William and Shelley Wassel, who had lived at 925 Maple St. with their three kids for five years until mold drove them out in April 2002.

The Wassels' doctors told them the mold in their house compromised the health of their three children, all of whom are asthmatic.

When they moved, they left almost all their belongings behind as their doctors worried that they would take the mold with them.

To make matters more complicated the Wassels had never signed a mortgage for their home, and were technically tenants for Habitat. A situation that was hardly unique to the nonprofit's local affiliate. Although its policy has since changed, in July 2002 seven other Habitat households were making monthly payments on houses for which they had not signed.

Without a signed mortgage, Habitat was free to sell the Wassel's home and did so in December, 2003 for $54,000 after buying the house for about $25,000. The Wassels found themselves without their home or any of the possessions they had left behind. Shortly after the sale they began to make their story public.

"Habitat profited on everything we put into our house," said Shelley Wassel. "We put everything we saved into (building and upgrading) that house."

Bound by their need for health care and the loss of their savings and possessions, Mrs. Wassel said the family is unable to move on and has not reached any kind of agreement with Habitat.

"We're stuck," she said. "We can't move forward."

Those two incidents along with several failed attempts to create a Habitat subdivision in Jermyn and then Old Forge have taken its toll on the nonprofit.

In January and February Mr. Quinn presented its plan to build 25 single-family homes on a tract of land off Gibson Street in Jermyn. But the plan was criticized as neighbors worried about how the development would affect housing values, the tract of land's commercial zoning and a sudden increase in Mr. Quinn's estimation of the would-be homes' potential market value from $75,000 to $102,000.

thanks Vince that is info we need to hold on. Hope you had a great New years.

Happy New Year to all of you!!! thanks!