News

New Homeowners Dispel Myths About Habitat for Humanity

Ceremony Will Celebrate Their Hard Work and Mark Completion of Homes

Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio will dedicate the first 10 new simple, decent and affordable homes of its 2010 build year at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 6.

“House dedications are a wonderful opportunity for us to introduce our hardworking families to the public,” said Dennis L. Bechhold, HFHSA president and CEO. “We already know how wonderful they are and so do the sponsors and volunteers who have had the privilege of working side by side with them.”

Bechhold went on to explain that the families served by HFHSA completely contradict the common misconceptions about Habitat and about families who seek help from the organization.

“These families don’t come to us looking to be given anything. They work very hard to make homeownership happen for themselves,” he said. “We are a hand up for them. We don’t give them anything. We just help them get started on making their dreams come true.”

Bechhold spoke of some of the families who will soon move into their homes.

“We have a single mom of four who works full time and goes to school at night. She has still found a way to complete the requirements of our program,” he said. “We also have parents of a terminally ill adult who are now caring for their granddaughter and want to provide a stable home for her. We have a single father of one who is working to provide for his daughter the stability he never had. I could go on and on. Their stories are very inspiring.”

Families approved for the program purchase their homes on a 0-percent, 20-year mortgage. Monthly mortgage payments run from $375-$425, Bechhold explained. 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, and they attend several hours of homeownership education.

HFHSA’s building program is made possible through donated funds and volunteer labor. This dedication marks 638 homes built by the organization. The organization plans to build 54 homes in 2010.

The public is invited to attend the ceremony. Bechhold noted that Samantha Coleman, the 13-year-old daughter of one of the homeowners, will speak to those in attendance as a representative of the 10 homeowners being honored.

Directions: Take IH-35 South (towards Laredo), exit #149 (Highway 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. Turn right at Twining. Follow the parking signs and look for the stage.