Special to the Pioneer Times
AMITY — Aroostook Housing, Inc. hosted a mortgage burning celebration last Saturday at the Amity home of George and Leanna Moorhouse. Fourteen years ago this month, the home was completed and dedicated. The Moorhouses made extra payments throughout the years and were able to pay off the mortgage early.
Contributed Photo/Mary Beth DiMarco
BYE, BYE MORTGAGE — From left are Ann Cushman, former president of Aroostook County Habitat for Humanity, George and Leanna Moorhouse, homeowners and Steve DiMarco, former president of Aroostook County Habitat for Humanity.
The Moorhouses built their home with the help of volunteers and financing through Aroostook County Habitat for Humanity. People from all over the County contributed and helped build the house. Habitat homeowners not only help build their houses, they pay for them through an interest-free mortgage to the organization.
The home was particularly important to the couple and a particular challenge to build because of Leanna’s chemical sensitivity due to a work-related respiratory injury. Leanna Moorhouse was happy to report that she has not had to be hospitalized for a respiratory attack since living in the house.
Although Aroostook County Habitat for Humanity no longer exists, money from their mortgage payments and those of the other two homes built with the organization will help County residents with housing needs. The new organization, Aroostook Housing Inc. makes two rounds of donations to local agencies working to solve housing-related issues.
