PORT ANGELES — Jamie Connerton and Democratic U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, who attended Port Angeles High School together, worked side by side as adults Saturday as Connerton toiled at starting a new phase of her life courtesy of Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County.
Connerton, Kilmer, Democratic state Rep. Steve Tharinger and a cadre of about 20 carpenters and helpers took part in building a new Habitat home for Connerton; her 9-year-old daughter, Saylah; and her 10-year-old daughter, Kira, at 2317 W. 18th St.
Kilmer, whose 6th Congressional District includes Clallam and Jefferson counties, and Tharinger, whose 24th Legislative District also includes the two counties, stopped by to pitch in during a joint campaign swing as both seek re-election Nov. 4.
Connerton, a Port Angeles hairdresser, was fulfilling the minimum 300 hours of sweat equity required of Habitat clients who purchase homes at no interest through the nonprofit ecumenical Christian ministry, which helps those in need regardless of race or religion.
“Our mission is to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope,” according to the group’s website, www.habitat.org.
The fulfillment of that mission could be seen in Connerton’s broad grin as she walked through her partially built 1,200-square-foot home, its studs still visible but her imagination on overdrive.
“This will be great,” she said, spreading her arms out as she gave a visitor a tour, a nail apron tied around the Port Angeles resident’s waist.
“That’s going to be my walk-in closet,” Connerton said, striding into one of three soon-to-be-completed bedrooms.
“I’m pretty excited about that,” she said, adding that she’s also looking forward to planting a garden.
Kira and Saylah also can’t wait to move into their new home.
The inseparable sisters won’t get the window they wanted in the wall between their bedrooms so they could more easily talk face to face.
But even better, there will be plenty of other children to play with in Habitat’s Maloney Heights Supporting Housing Institute area where the organization is building the family’s home, Connerton said.
Connerton’s is Habitat’s 24th home in Clallam County since 1991, Executive Director Cindi Hueth said.
The organization’s 25th home is being built in Forks.
Kilmer, 40, a Port Angeles native, and Connerton, 36, a fourth-generation city resident, were worlds apart in grades at Port Angeles High School, though they do recall seeing each other in the hallways.
“That’s a common theme coming back home,” Kilmer said of former associates surfacing when he returns to his home town.
As he wielded a tape measure and helped put siding on his former schoolmate’s home, he called himself “a huge supporter” of Habitat.
“It’s one of those people-helping-people programs,” he said.
Tharinger, slated to go doorbelling with Kilmer later Saturday as election season winds down, lauded Habitat’s hand-up-not-hand-out theme.
He also noted the importance of the adequate housing provided by Habitat in fighting income disparities.
“The sweat equity is a great policy,” Tharinger added.
Connerton had no qualms about working on the home she hopes to live in by February.
The best part about it?
“To own my own home and be able to afford it,” she said.
Hueth said homeowners purchase the homes on a 20-year mortgage.
The average Habitat home is valued at about $120,000.
An income of 30 percent-50 percent of the federal median income is a requirement for applicants of Habitat homes.
Potential applicants can visit www.habitatclallam.org or stop by the office at 728 E. Front St. in Port Angeles for more information.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.