News

Habitat for Humanity to Dedicate 23 Homes

Families to Celebrate During Saturday Event

Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio will end its 2009 building season on a high note as it joins with 23 families to celebrate the completion of their homes at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7.

“We are so excited to have reached our goal of completing 50 homes in 2009,” said Dennis L. Bechhold, president and CEO of the organization. “50 more families can now look forward to a bright and more successful future.”

Bechhold explained that research shows that homeowners and their children have a more stable and secure future.

“It’s about more than just the obvious. It’s about more than having an affordable and safe roof over their heads,” he said. “Research has shown us so much more -- like children who are more likely to graduate from high school and eventually attend college, and hardworking parents who take a more active role in their children’s schools and in the community.”

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.

“By the time they move into their homes, they already feel that sense of community,” Bechhold explained.

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

• Citi
• Christ Church/St. Luke’s Episcopal Church/ Episcopal Diocese of West Texas
• Coker United Methodist Church/Trinity Baptist Church
• Ecumenical Genesis Group
• Kinetic Concepts, Inc. (KCI)
• Knights of Columbus - Archdiocese of San Antonio Chapter/ Prince of Peace Catholic Church
• A.E. Leonard Family Giving Council
• St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
• Tesoro/Friends of Habitat
• University United Methodist Church
• Wednesday-Thursday Crew with an Anonymous Donor
• Wells Fargo/South Texas Lutheran Cluster
• Community Build - Capital One, Broadway National Bank, Trinity University Chapter of Habitat for Humanity
• 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 (5th stoplight), turn left on Palo Alto Road (at dead end), turn right on aragon Drive, turn left on Maria Isabel Street, turn tight at Twining, turn left at Familia, Familia turns into Azul, Azul continues to Lago Del Mar, follow the parking signs and look for the stage.