I-Team

BOSTON (WBZ) ― A WBZ I-Team investigation revealed a woman who broke the rules and took advantage of a community that came together to help a family in need.

A home in Braintree is a dream come true for Samantha and Eric Treall and their two boys made possible by the South Shore Habitat for Humanity.

"The amount they've done for me and my family is extraordinary," Erik Treall said.

Habitat's mission is to build decent, affordable housing for families in need. The I-Team found one family that took advantage of Habitat's and an entire community's generosity.

Tammy Berry Goyette made headlines when she moved into 22 Glenside Ave., in Billerica, a house built by the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell. The town of Billerica donated the land, and volunteers opened their hearts and built the house one nail at a time. But Berry Goyette shut the door on their charity.

Over the years Berry Goyette's friends and family have been the ones who called the Habitat house home while she was living with her husband and kids 12 miles away in Lowell.

"It's really pathetic," said former tenant Jessica D'Amico.

Even more troubling, D'Amico says, is that rooms in the Habitat house were up for rent. She rented a room here for about a year and paid Berry Goyette cash.

"I paid her about $400 a month," D'Amico said.

A document for state assistance obtained by the I-Team backs D'Amico's words up. In 2003, she was paying $325 for the room and expenses.

Berry Goyette's own signature is at the bottom.

"It's just wrong what she does, and she's making a lot of money off people for something that she was practically given," D'Amico said.

"There are restrictions against renting and they do have to occupy the home," said Jerry McDermott with South Shore Habitat For Humanity. "It's spelled out clearly."

McDermott says what this woman is doing breaks all the Habitat rules. McDermott heads up the South Shore Habitat for Humanity and is not affiliated with the chapter involved in this case.

"When I hear about something like this, with all the good work that Habitat does, it hurts that much more," McDermott said. "It's a real stab in the back."

"There are other families that could use a house or help -- the assistance she's been given," D'Amico said.

WBZ's Kathy Curran tried to speak with Berry Goyette but she ran into her house in Lowell and called police.

Since the mid 1980s, with Habitat's help, more than 400 homes have been built across the Bay State. Habitat stays in touch with its families but doesn't do on-site visits. In the wake of what we found that may change.

"It's unfortunate but to maintain the integrity -- to let our donors and volunteers know that we're serious about our mission -- that maybe we should check up maybe annually to make sure people are living up to their end of the bargain," McDermott said.

"It's disgusting. All of the volunteers, and Habitat, they step forward and give you everything they can, and you basically throw it back at them," Erik Treall said. "It's not right at all."

When the I-Team first contacted Habitat of Greater Lowell with questions about the Billerica Habitat house, they thought Tammy Berry Goyette was living in the home. But since the investigation began Habitat has started legal action against her to take the house away.

For those wondering about the need for homes in that area, 160 families have filled out applications for the two homes that are being built in the Greater Lowell district right now.

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