CLOSER TO HOME FAMILY'S LONG WAIT FINALLY GETS RESULTS.

Byline: Kathleen Sweeney Staff Writer

VAL VERDE - Jose and Maria Gamboa's wait is over.

Construction on the first Habitat for Humanity home in Val Verde has begun after more than a year of delays that left the Gamboa family living in a one-bedroom house with no heat.

The plumbing was installed a few weeks ago and the foundation was poured Wednesday - with a little help from Maria Gamboa's homemade tamales, hot chocolate and soda - and, today, the walls will start rising.

``We are very excited,'' Maria Gamboa said. ``They told us they are going to finish it in two months.''

The Gamboas and their three children, Henry, 10, Cynthia, 6, and Albert, 2, have been waiting since October 2000 to move into the house on Sheridan Road that will provide better living conditions and a healthier and safer place to grow.

But one delay after another kept the project on hold, especially after Los Angeles County officials altered the plans, moving the house back from the road. The setback requirements changed three times, before those permits were finally issued.

``We are thrilled for the family, especially this year because the kids have been in the hospital for the lack of heat,'' said Terri-Lei Robertson, Habitat for Humanity executive director. ``Now, they see it's really going to happen.''

But the delays on this project could affect another Habitat home planned in Los Angeles County, Robertson said.

The county is looking into why it took eight months to approve the permits, but so far no one has pinpointed the problem. County officials did not return phone calls this week.

``They are trying to figure out where it broke down and where it got stuck,'' Robertson said. ``We are hoping that is a good thing because we would like to build in Val Verde again, but until we know we aren't going to have these kinds of problems again we aren't going to touch it.''

As for the Gamboas, their dream of owning a home is coming true. And while they've already worked most of 500 service hours required to qualify for a home, normally used in building their home, they're going to keep working.

``We are going to keep working on the house even if we finish our hours,'' Maria Gamboa said. ``It's finally going to happen.''

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Photo:

(color) The foundation cement for Jose and Maria Gamboa's Habitat for Humanity house in Val Verde gets smoothed out.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer