By Lauren Wanko
Correspondent
“It’s overwhelming. I really can’t put it into words,” said Egg Harbor Township resident Russelle Patterson.
Storm victim Patterson is finally almost back home, except this was never her home. It belonged to a stranger who decided to donate it.
“This is like a dream that I haven’t awoken from yet,” Patterson said.
It’s a dream for Patterson because she’s been living in a hotel for the past 18 months. Her storm damaged home was demoed in July. She’s been paying her hotel bill and the mortgage, but last month, she got a phone call.
“I was like are you serious? I actually could not believe it,” she said.
A Longport resident called Habitat for Humanity Atlantic County. He was rebuilding his home so he decided to donate his house to the non-profit. He wants to remain anonymous.
“The house was just too good to demo and he wanted it to go to someone. He know there would be people who would benefit from this home,” said Habitat for Humanity Atlantic County Executive Director Carol Schwartz.
Habitat for Humanity pooled resources from partner organizations like United Way and the Atlantic County Long Term Recovery Group to figure out how to go about relocating the house.
“It if wasn’t for the partners coming week after week, we wouldn’t be able to pull something like this off,” said Atlantic County Long Term Recovery Group Chair Amanda McGowan.
The challenge for the Atlantic County Long Term Recovery Group wasn’t finding a storm victim looking to get back home, but rather a lot that was suitable and ready for this house.
“Look at how it fits! It’s absolutely amazing. It’s as if it was always supposed to be here,” Patterson said.
“Timing is pretty much everything with this, and having a lot ready to transport to is a key factor in making this happen,” said SJ Hauck House Movers owner Steve Hauck.
Hauck relocated the house. It took an hour and half from Longport to Egg Harbor Township. A portion of the roof even had to be dismantled to clear a bridge.
“We pretty much designed a trailer underneath the house that will pull it and we did a route survey to make sure it would fit down the road,” Hauck said.
The house will be on a permanent foundation by next week. Then the utilities will be connected. Patterson says it’s all so hard to believe. A stranger’s home is now her home.
“I will love this home, I want them to know that. I am so grateful. I hope one day I get meet them,” she said.
Patterson can’t help but beam as the new key dangles from her fingers. This year she expects to be home for the holidays.