Meet Three New Habitat Homeowners

Three homes in East Palo Alto and Belle Haven were in foreclosure when Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco acquired them last year as part of its Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) and began renovations to curb the neighborhood blight. Today, not only is the blight gone, but three families are now becoming homeowners and creating new opportunities for their families as a result of the program.

"I wish a lot more families could have this opportunity," said Dina (pictured with her children).

“This shows that the community is going in the right direction,” said Carlos Romero, East Palo Alto Mayor, at the recent home dedication ceremony, where each of the families received their house keys. “Every house that Habitat and East Palo Alto in collaboration are able to rehab and improve is one step closer to eliminating those issues of blight, of gangs, of other kinds of social maladies,” said Romero.

New homeowner Camerina and her family

The NRP homes were renovated through significant volunteer support from individuals and corporate groups throughout the Bay Area, including Lockheed Martin, which organizes monthly build days and has contributed more than 200 hours so far this year. “Lockheed Martin volunteers see the fruits of their labor at the end of the day and feel they are building a better world,” said Jonathan Kimura, Senior Engineer at Lockheed. “Habitat for Humanity also allows our volunteers to work on homes from beginning to end and gives them a rare satisfaction not found elsewhere.”

Carmela enjoys her new home.

Carmela is deeply involved in her church and community through her work at a local non-profit organization.  She will soon move into a three bedroom home in East Palo Alto with her two daughters (ages 11 and 3) after completing the sweat equity requirement of the Habitat program — 500 hours on the construction site helping to renovate the home — and homeownership training. Carmela is acquiring the home with a zero interest loan and no downpayment.

“Becoming a homeowner has always been a goal of mine,” said Carmela, “but I never thought it would happen this quickly. This is truly a blessing.” 

Carmela was interviewed on ABC Channel 7 KGO:
Families given keys to new homes in East Palo Alto
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/peninsula&id=8175829

By Jennifer Doettling, Communications Director