Celso Alvando-Fajando is a cook who has worked at the Skipper Chowder House in South Yarmouth for over 15 years. “I’m 31, so Celso has been a part of our restaurant family for my whole adult life,” said Aidan Delaney, whose parents purchased the restaurant in 1999. The restaurant employs about 100 people during the summer and about 40 year-round.
Aidan Delaney, right, celebrated with Celso Alvando-Fajando when he closed on his home purchase.
After Delaney learned that Alvando-Fajando and his family were considering moving to New Hampshire to find a house they could afford to purchase, he did some research and found out about Housing Assistance’s sales by lottery. “We have a lot of great people who work for us, like Celso, who are integral to our team,” he said. “If there’s things that we can do to help them out, it’s a no brainer. You don’t want to lose a 15-year employee.”
Alvando-Fajando, who was born in El Salvador and has lived on Cape Cod for 25 years, took a first-time homebuyer’s course last spring, in hopes of buying a home for his wife and three children. Delaney said the process was somewhat streamlined because, as Alvando-Fajando’s employer, he had ready access to W-2 forms and pay stubs. “It was really easy for me to pass them along to Celso for the application process,” Delaney said.
“I had notifications on my phone for when a new house would go up,” said Delaney. “My wife and my dad were all looking for a place that Celso could call home. My favorite movie is ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’ and there’s a great scene in the movie where George Bailey is sitting down with his father, who says that there’s a fundamental urge for somebody to want to be able to own their own home and to raise their family.
“It can feel like an overwhelming process, so to have good support behind you is very valuable. One thing that I’m really aware of is that my dad came over from Ireland in 1983 and he always tells me he came with just the cash in his wallet and the American dream. If we can help people strive for the American dream of owning your own home, then why not do it?”
It took Alvando-Fajando two lottery attempts before he was able to purchase a four-bedroom house in Yarmouthport. “I felt so bad about the first one because I was really hoping, but the ping-pong balls didn’t roll our way,” said Delaney. It was all for the best, as Alvando-Fajando ended up in a home closer to his workplace and with more room for his children.
In the second lottery, Alvando-Fajando’s number was the eighth ping pong-ball picked, but the optimized lottery is weighted for maximum occupancy, and he was the first person who had a need of four bedrooms.
“I was so happy, when I got the news,” said Alvando-Fajando. “The house where we were living is not in great condition. I cried when Aidan called to tell me.” He’s excited that his new home has a quiet yard where his children can safely play.
“Celso is very humble, but he is a truly amazing man,” said Delaney. “We need people like Celso to stay in our community.”
To learn more about homes for sale through Housing Assistance, visit haconcapecod.org/program-services/find-housing/affordable-homes-for-sale
