Home sweet home for the holidays

By Heather Teter
Special to the Outlook

There’s no place like home for the holidays, which is why the recent completion of two new homes by the City of Tallahassee and Big Bend Habitat for Humanity was a jollier celebration than usual. Following two months of work, leaders with the City and Habitat presented house keys to the families of India Williams and Maria Wright on Nov. 7.

 
“In this community, we lend our neighbors a hand when they are in need,” Mayor Andrew Gillum said. “Thanks to the phenomenal work of Big Bend Habitat for Humanity and the gracious support of our City employees, two Tallahassee families have brand new homes that they can be proud of.”

 
Earlier this year, the City Commission voted to sponsor the construction of two Habitat for Humanity homes, which consisted of financial support in the amount of $130,000 and volunteered manpower provided by City employees.

 
Construction on McArthur Street officially began on August 19. Since that time, City employees have volunteered their own time on Fridays and Saturdays to complete the homes. All in all, City employees have donated at least 1,309 hours to the project.

 
“At Habitat for Humanity, we don’t just build homes, we build hope and community,” said Antoine Wright, executive director of Big Bend Habitat for Humanity. “During this build process, City employees brought the same level of commitment to service that they do each and every day serving the residents of our city.”

 
Big Bend Habitat for Humanity provides affordable homeownership to low-income persons. The Habit for Humanity model allows for groups and individuals to sponsor homes through financial contributions and pledges of volunteer labor. Individuals who acquire a home through Habitat for Humanity must in turn provide volunteer labor for other homes built by the organization.

 
For more information about Big Bend Habitat for Humanity, visit BigBendHabitat.org.