H.O.M.E. at last: Foreclosed fixer-upper turns into family's home sweet home

Dennis and Vannessia Harvey, front, with Lisa Carr and John Barlow Housing Opportunities Made for Everyone has put out the welcome mat at its first H.O.M.E. Dennis and Vannessia Harvey and their teenage son have settled in to the Golden Gate house that was in foreclosure and sorely neglected until H.O.M.E. purchased and refurbished it for resale to qualified buyers like the Harveys.

John Barlow, the businessman whose commitment to providing affordable housing by rehabilitating foreclosed singlefamily homes inspired the development of H.O.M.E., Inc., predicts that by summer, 12 more houses will be ready for sale to people working in service industries in Collier County.

"We have competed the purchase of three additional foreclosed houses, and work should begin on renovations later this month," Mr. Barlow said, adding all three homes are in Golden Gate. "We're anxious to get started so we can get them ready for their new owners."

Candidates for potential H.O.M.E. ownership include teachers, nurses, firemen, police, and skilled government, construction and service workers — in essence, people whose skills and services improve the quality of life for everyone in Collier County. "We want people like the Harveys to know about the opportunities coming for them," Mr. Barlow said.

COURTESY PHOTO The Harvey's new house Both of the Harveys have lived in Southwest Florida for about 30 years. Mrs. Harvey attended grammar school and high school in Naples and graduated from the nursing program at Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology. She works as a medical assistant for Specialists in Urology. Mr. Harvey works full-time as a barber and part time at McDonalds. Their son, a sophomore at Naples High School, has already earned a scholarship for college.

As H.O.M.E. partners, several local companies provided the manpower and materials to transform the run-down house in Golden Gate to home sweet home for the Harvey family. Boran, Craig, Barber & Engel Construction Company, Inc. was the general contractor and provided a project manager.

Subcontractors and others who helped make the house move-in ready were: AA Stucco & Drywall, Inc.; Abbey Carpet; Bella Marble and Tile; Carter Fence Company; Circuit City; Comcast; Community Electric; Contractor's Choice Supply; Gulfside Tile & Marble; Krehling Industries; Hogan Landscape; O'Donnell Landscapes, Inc.; Perfectly Clean of Collier County; Perfectly Painted of Collier County; RJ Vann air-conditioning, plumbing and ventilation; Raymond Building Supply; Rice Insulation and Glass; Robb & Stucky; Stevens Industries International; and Timo Brothers.

Along with Mr. Barlow, who serves as a vice president and assistant treasurer of H.O.M.E., Inc., the organization's volunteer board of directors consists of: Russell Budd of Professional Building Systems, president and CEO; Julie Schmelzie of Bank of America, vice president and CFO; Elizabeth Wolszon, vice president marketing and strategic planning; attorney Michael Pettit, secretary; and Carol Golightly, finance director for the Collier County Sheriff's Office, treasurer.

For more information about helping H.O.M.E., Inc. make single-family home ownership a reality for working professionals who contribute to the greater Naples community, contact Mr. Budd at 643-1921 or visit www.homenaples.org.

For information about qualifying for a home, contact Lisa Carr at Collier County Housing and Human Services, 252-2338 or lisacarr@colliergov.net.