News

Homes To Be Dedicated June 20

Young Mom To Take Part In Celebration

Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio will celebrate the completion of 7 more simple, decent and affordable homes during a dedication ceremony set for 10 a.m. Saturday, June 20, in its community near Palo Alto College.

Rosy Morales will be one of several celebrating the completion of her new home.

“Rosy is a shining example of the hardworking spirit within all of the families who partner with Habitat to better the lives of their families,” said Dennis L. Bechhold, HFHSA President and CEO.  “At such a young age, she has accomplished what many don’t do in a lifetime.”

Morales is in her early 20s and is the primary caregiver for her mother, who suffers from paralysis, her 14-year-old sister and her own 8-month-old son, all the while working and going to school full-time at Northwest Vista College.  

She first heard about Habitat for Humanity from her mother who urged her to “just try” it. She decided it was time to look for something beyond their cramped two-bedroom mobile home that wasn’t suited for her mother’s physical limitations, but unfortunately couldn’t afford rent for anything larger. However, with the partnership between the Morales family, volunteers, donors and Habitat, the family of four will soon be moving into their very own home.

“If it wasn’t for my sponsors, my house wouldn’t be here,” Morales said. “I also love the volunteers.”

Morales plans to continue her education and journey to becoming a registered nurse.  She also plans to eventually earn her master’s degree and see her sister off to college.

Families who are part of the Habitat program are required to put in 300 hours of “sweat equity,” meaning they help build their own homes, as well as the homes of their neighbors.  In addition, they attend several hours of homeownership classes. Once the requirements of the program are met, they are able to purchase the homes they helped build on a 20-year, 0% interest mortgage.

HFHSA’s building program is made possible through donated funds and volunteer labor. Sponsors for the 7 homes to be dedicated include:

·        Balous & Julie Miller, Chase, Bob & Ann Coleman

·        Harvey E. Najim Family Foundation

·        Ecumenical Genesis: Agudas Achim Men’s Club, The Fellowship of San Antonio, Oak Hills Church, Our Lady of Grace Parish, St. Andrew United Methodist Church, St. Gregory Parish, St. Peter’s Parish, Temple Beth-El Brotherhood

·        Numerous individuals and friends of Habitat.

“We couldn’t do this without our donors and the thousands of volunteers that help us each year,” Bechhold said.

Directions: Take IH-35 South (towards Laredo), exit #149; take a left at the traffic light onto Hwy. 16; Turn right on West Villaret Road (3rd stoplight), turn left on Palo Alto Road (at dead end), turn right on Aragon Drive. Turn right on Algo Dulce. There will be a stop sign at Maria Isabel St. Turn right to Coconino and follow the signs.