News

Local Restaurants Partner to Build Home

Ceremony Marks Completion of 12 Houses

Longtime San Antonio restaurateurs Balous Miller of Bill Miller Bar-B-Q and Bill Lyons of Casa Rio and Schilo’s have partnered and joined forces with Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio to help a local family build their way to a better future.

The home sponsored by the two businesses will be dedicated in a ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 12, in HFHSA’s Palo Alto Community.

“It just seemed like a natural fit to partner together to help this family in need,” said Miller, president of Bill Miller Bar-B-Q.

Already a longtime supporter of HFHSA, Miller said he feels this is one way he should give back to the community.

“I have a house in the San Antonio area … I just figured that if I can afford a luxury like that, I can afford to help someone who is trying to build their own affordable home,” he said.

Lyons echoed Miller’s beliefs.

“Casa Rio is proud to give back to the community we have been a part of for over 60 years. We enjoyed seeing our staff work together to make this dream a reality. Happy homes with strong families are important to building a strong community and what better way to do that than supporting Habitat for Humanity,” he said.

The house is the future home of single mother Jennifer Reina.

“I am so excited, I have been dreaming of this since 1999,” she said. “I've always wanted my own home that is affordable. I knew I could never afford $1,000 for a mortgage payment so this was in my budget. This means we have a place to call our own ... Somewhere safe to lay our heads.”

Reina’s home is one of 12 to be dedicated in Saturday’s ceremony. Other sponsors for this group of homes include Valero Energy Corporation, The Harvey E. Najim Family Foundation (two homes), various “Friends of Habitat” and Concordia Lutheran Church, Temple Beth-El Brotherhood, Agudas Achim Men’s Club, and Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church who joined together to sponsor a “Community Build” house.

This dedication marks the completion of 32 of 54 homes to be built by HFHSA in 2010, and 660 in its 34-year history. Families who enter the Habitat program are required to perform at least 300 hours of “sweat equity” by taking part in the construction of their own homes and the homes of their neighbors, as well as attending homeownership education classes. The families in turn are able to purchase their home on a zero-interest, 20-year mortgage. Mortgage payments range from $375 to $425 a month. Homes are built through donated funds and volunteer labor.

“We rely on our supporters to help us in our mission of eliminating substandard housing in our community,” said Dennis L. Bechhold, HFHSA president and CEO. “We are really proud and appreciative of the continued support of businesses such as Bill Miller Bar-B-Q. We are also excited to welcome Casa Rio and Schilo’s into that group of supporters.”

The public is invited to Saturday’s ceremony. Reina will represent the families with a speech during the event.

“My new home is very important to me. I've worked so hard and this is something I've always wanted,” she said.

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.