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Dedication Ceremony Set for 12 Habitat Homes

Volunteers Needed to Help Complete Homes on Time

Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio has set its third house dedication ceremony for Saturday, June 12, in its Palo Alto Community.

“We have 12 families who have really been working very hard to make their homes become reality,” said Sarah Arredondo, volunteer services coordinator for the non-profit homebuilder. “The reality is, they are almost done, but we still need a lot of help to put the finishing touches on these homes before we can hold our dedication ceremony.”

There is one more weekend of construction on these homes before the June 12th event, she said, explaining that this weekend is set aside for landscaping work and so far, many more volunteers are needed to get the work done.

“Volunteers make what we do possible,” Arredondo explained. “They always come through for us and we are hoping and praying that will hold true for this weekend.”

Volunteers are specifically needed on Saturday, June 5, to help lay sod and perform other landscape work. To volunteer, call Arredondo at 210-223-5203 or email her at sarah@habitatsa.org.

“We really can use your help,” she said. “Come out and give us a hand, and at the same time you’ll be able to meet some of the families in need who are trying to build better lives for themselves.”

Working with approximately 12,000 volunteers each year, HFHSA and its building program, Hand-Up Homes, seeks to eliminate substandard housing in San Antonio. Families who enter the program earn on average about $22,000 a year and would not have homeownership as an option any other way. As part of the program requirements, each family must complete at least 300 “sweat equity” hours, meaning they work on their own homes, as well as the homes of their future neighbors, and they attend homeownership education classes. In turn, they are able to purchase the homes they helped build on a 20-year, zero-percent interest mortgage.