On Sept. 29, 11 of us took ourselves to Port Angeles, Bert Paul, Bob Tiemeyer, Val Giles and Pastor Pam Hunter, along with the Grafstroms, the Almazans and the Terrills. After a solid two weeks of meetings here, discussing our options and our approach, preparing our best persuasive speeches — making up folders for each board member — we considered ourselves ready and sallied forth around the lake to do battle with the Board of Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County. We presented — and darned well, I might add — our case, and our concerns, regarding their decision to sell the rest of the lots on Maloney Lane and pull out of Forks.

If it had been a fair fight, we would have won. They were seriously outnumbered. As a matter of fact, they didn’t even have a quorum of members present to hear us out. We spoke anyway. They were polite. That was about it.

They were not swayed by the fact that the Care-A-Vanners said they could do a complete build in Forks or that three volunteers in a community our size equals about 10 volunteers in a community their size.

They did not care that the computerized sign-up for volunteers did not work in Forks or that almost a decade ago the citizens and merchants of Forks sunk a lot of actual and figurative money into preparing those lots for Habitat. Basically, they did not care. We talked for over an hour. They handed us a sheet of paper.

They had already arrived at a decision. “To take a two-year hiatus from building in Forks. After two years to consider doing Neighborhood Revitalization. To sell the 6 (six) remaining lots to the Clallam County Housing Authority. We have spent in excess of $200,000 on property purchase and subdivision development and have built three houses with very little support from the Forks community.” And so on.

Ending with, “… it goes against our better judgment. We take our fiduciary responsibilities seriously.”

We could argue endlessly with their judgment, and money is an issue for pretty much everybody, but aren’t they supposed to be a charity, not a business running on a business model?

We left discouraged and a little annoyed, but hardly defeated. Those of us who made up the CORE Team, have joined forces with other West Enders to form FACT – Forks Activist Community Team. The purpose of FACT is to further the cause of low-income housing in Forks, to keep the six lots as self-help, single-family housing sites so as to protect the families who are already there and to work as a team to combat being summarily dumped by Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County. When we know more, we’ll tell you. If you would like to join us, or join the discussion, we’d like to hear from you.

Showandah Terrill

Forks