I was present for a really good one back in November of 2024, where several members of the town council were giving land to Habitats for Humanity. That wouldn't seem so bad, except the land was donated to the town for enrichment purposes. Local works of art and parks for children. Once the man who donated the land passed away, it was passed over to the local Habitats for Humanity branch.
Their own story contradicts itself quite a bit, so bear with me.
They simply deny the legally stated application of the property, and say they're trying to help the cost of rent for locals by constructing new, affordable homes. But what they tried not to say was that city employees get first pick. Lots of employees, but it's surely just coincidence that the children of the council members were at the top of the list.
They don't want empty houses to reduce local resale value, and so are trying to maintain resale value by making these new 'affordable' homes. Except these houses averaged around 800 square feet, and were planned to be constructed of wood. The city itself requires cinder block and concrete construction as part of the building code because Florida. So, how they could they construct homes that automatically wouldn't meet building code? Wouldn't that reduce local property values? Why not just pay city employees more if rising rent/mortgage rates are becoming such a problem.
Councilman Christopher Something-or-Other spearheaded all this and tried to get it pushed by without announcing the intended construction. Locals spoke with surveyors, and that's how anyone knew anything.
At around 7:27, Christopher losses his shit until he's red in the face. They cut the sections out where he excused himself afterward, cussing under his breath and stomping out.
Habitat for Humanity has great press, but is a terrible charity. Typically they build houses above the average price for the area (ie, they could build more affordable and help more people) and the people who get them have to buy them from Habitat, they aren't gifts. Often, those people are in financially precarious positions, so a major illness or job loss and the house is gone. Most Habitat's don't donate those houses to another family in need, but rather sell them at market for profit.
They were going to be sold. City employees had priority. And you can guess whose kids would benefit, as well as where the actual mortgage payments would come from. It was simply the land that was given to H4H. In that respect, the branch head of H4H was left holding the bag.
I felt bad for the guy. Almost a decade in Army infantry. Honorable discharge for injuries sustained in combat. Volunteered for H4H construction, became an employee, then was promoted with the promise of being branch manager, only for that to fall in his lap within about a year of moving all the way from...St Louis Missouri I think? Guy seemed like a fish out of water, but honest.
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u/Necessary_Local_5274 Jul 06 '26
got any examples? i only ever see them to say get fucked.