Bayou Area Habitat reaches the 100-house mark

Bayou Area Habitat for Humanity in Thibodaux dedicated the construction of its 100th home in Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes Thursday afternoon with the aid of a couple of national celebrities.

Rock singer Jon Bon Jovi, working through talk show host Oprah Winfrey’s Angel Network, donated the money to build homes in part of the Angel Place subdivision in the Bayou Blue area of Gray in Terrebonne Parish following the hurricanes of 2005.

In return, Habitat for Humanity named the single, U-shaped street running through the Angel Place subdivision Bon Jovi Boulevard.

All of the several dozen houses in the subdivision were constructed by Bayou Area Habitat for Humanity (BAHFH) following the hurricanes. BAHFH’s 100th home is located on the corner of Bayou Blue Bypass Road and Bon Jovi Boulevard. The house’s owner is Karen Anderson, who is originally from Gibson but who was living in Metairie when Katrina struck.

Construction on the home was completed in mid-September.

BAHFH, founded in 1996, is the local affiliate of the ecumenical Christian ministry Habitat International, which was created to construct houses for qualifying persons at greatly reduced prices. Participants pay no interest on home loans, but need to put in a required minimum number of hours helping Habitat construct the houses.

Habitat International’s goal following the 2005 hurricanes is to build 1,000 homes in the Gulf South. Angel Place subdivision is part of that effort.

The formal dedication ceremony for the 100th home was held under a canopy on the lawn. Several prayers were recited in honor of the event, and attendees were given a formal tour of the three-bedroom house.

Anderson, who lives in the new house with her son Henry Jr. and daughters Aaliyah and Alaysha, was formally handed the keys by BAHFH Family Support Director Michele Starks.

Anderson said looking for permanent housing following Katrina was a tumultuous affair. She stayed in Texas and Opelousas after leaving Metairie.

“Habitat made my family stable,” she said. “They’re great people. The staff are just good people.”

Executive Director Jeremy Becker said the 2005 hurricanes caused a surge in homebuilding by BAHFH. Between its founding and hurricane Katrina, BAHFH constructed fewer than 30 homes.

“My job is to eliminate poverty housing in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes,” he said. “In January 2006, all of this subdivision was empty. It’s impressive what was done in 20 months. People have come from all over the world to help work on site.”

Habitat representative Miki Pfiffer said, “Who would have thought it would take off like this?”

A majority of the houses in the Angel Place subdivision were prefabricated in Washington, D.C., and Canada before being reassembled in Bayou Blue.

The Bayou Area Habitat for Humanity in Thibodaux celebrated the construction of its 100th home in Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes last week. * Photo courtesy of BAHFH