Who Qualifies for a Habitat Home? It is not easy!
Habitat works toward this vision by building and improving homes in partnership with individuals and families in need of a decent and affordable place to live. Families and individuals in need of decent, affordable housing apply for homeownership with their local Habitat for Humanity. As part of their willingness to partner, Habitat’s homebuyers invest hundreds of hours of their own labor, called sweat equity, working alongside volunteers and other Habitat homeowners. Habitat for Humanity follows a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection. Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing Habitat’s homeowners.
Each local Habitat’s family selection committee selects homeowners based on three criteria:
- The applicant’s level of need.
- Their willingness to partner with Habitat.
- Their ability to repay a mortgage through an affordable payment plan.
This year, the homebuyers are the Ramos / DeJesus Family,
In September 2017, Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico as a Category 5 hurricane. It is recognized as the worst natural disaster to ever hit the island. Alejandro Ramos and his wife, Estefany De Jesus Besares moved to North Georgia with their oldest son, Kenniel was only six years old at the time. Their twins, Alexis and Alex were only one year old.
The relocation to Georgia was challenging. For the first three weeks, the family was hosted by a friend. Alejandro quickly searched for a job in his profession as a barber. Their next move was to a hotel for six weeks and then into an apartment in Acworth. The children were also fighting significant health battles. The youngest child, Keyden, suffers from laryngomalacia and sleep apnea. He is only four and has undergone several surgeries with more possible in his future. Alejandro has become a skilled barber and recently went out on his own, renting a booth and bringing his own clientele to the business. While he works hard, Estefany has her hands full caring for four boys, some of them still dealing with various disabilities.
The family learned about Habitat for Humanity-North Central Georgia through Facebook. Their faith has been their rock through all of life’s ups and downs. God continues to bless Alejandro and Estefany by providing them with a path to homeownership they could never have imagined just four years ago while their home was being ravaged by a hurricane. They are grateful for the opportunity Habitat for Humanity-NCG provides to families like them and look forward to moving into a new home in 2023.
How do I donate to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore?
Habitat for Humanity ReStores is a nonprofit home improvement store and donation center that sell new and gently used furniture, home accessories, building materials, and appliances to the public at a fraction of the retail price. Local ReStores are in Smyrna, Lawrenceville, and Gainesville. Use the following link to find a location near you: Habitat for Humanity ReStores. The ReStores are proudly owned and operated by local Habitat for Humanity affiliates. Proceeds are used to build homes and improve communities locally and around the world. ReStores sell reusable and surplus building materials, furniture, and appliances to the public. To see accepted materials, contact your local Habitat ReStore.