Shelton family gets their home back

Shelton (WTNH) - After a two year battle with a local contractor, the Shelton community is helping a disabled woman and her children rebuild their lives by rebuilding their home.

Laura Sussan, of Shelton, is literally counting her blessings. A contractor left her home renovation undone and she was left homeless with an empty savings account.

"I had paid him the money, $58,300, to do the work, and I still owed the rest of it on completion. Obviously it's not completed," Sussan said. "But he started doing work and he didn't have a building permit. The town came in and shut him down."

About two years ago, Sussan, who is legally blind, says she hired Cheshire Construction Servies to patch a leaky roof to improve the lives of her three kids, Natalie, Jacob, and 14-year-old Joshua who has a serious genetic condition similar to autism.

The company cleared trees and framed out an addition that Shelton officials deemed structurally unsound.

Because the renovation went incomplete for so long, weather got in and mold was everywhere in the home. The family got sick and was eventually forced to vacate.

And now enter the Shelton community. Different groups stepped in to provide the familiy with shelter.

The Shelton Volunteer Fire Department and other local contractors stepped in to rebuild Sussan's home.

"This is a neighborhood issue, and the fire department's motto is 'Neighbors helping neighbors,' Chris Jones, from the Shelton Volunteer Fire Department said. "This is a sunny-side neighborhood and our company represents this area so it was the perfect opportunity to get involved."

While Shelton Fire is working on Sussan's house, Shelton Police and the attorney general's office are actively investing Sussan's case.

In fact, Attorny General Richard Blumenthal tells News Channel 8 that he is seeking money from Cheshire Construction Service's insurance company to help with the repairs. He is also looking into a number of other complaints filed against the company's owner, Bryant Esparo.

We were unable to get in touch with Cheshire Construction for comment.

"Never take anything for granted. Life is too short," Sussan said. "There's lots of things out there. I also learned if you do for others, they're going to return the favor someday when you need it the most."