GISBORNE - Three Gisborne families will start the new millennium as first-time home-owners thanks to a charity drive that saw three houses built in less than four days this week.
Seventy people, including a 20-plus contingent from the United States, chipped in to build the homes under the schemerun by Habitat for Humanity.
The organisation chose the families for their ability to pay a mortgage - which is interest-free - and their willingness to give 500 hours in helping to build, paint and shift the houses to sections bought for them in the city.
Joe and Wai Hills were yesterday painting the bedrooms for their four children, aged from 9 months to 6 years, and finding it hard to express their gratitude for the helping hand.
"We've lived in six houses in five years," said Wai Hills.
Fisheries worker John Ahuriri, who will also move into one of the homes, said it was an amazing act of kindness and without it he would never have managed to own his own home.
"There are just so many people to thank, we don't know where to start.
"By the time we finish they will all be whanau."
The panelwood homes went up in just 31/2 days and once they are shifted the finishing touches, including spouting, letterboxes and clotheslines, will be added.
The families will move in about February, says Jim Litteral, of the Gisborne branch of Habitat.
The organisation owned the houses and the families took out mortgages with them, he said.
Repayments went towards building more homes around the country.
The charity exercise has been part of the Christian camp Servant 2000, which has attracted more than 3500 people to celebrate reconciliation in the Year 2000.
