On Sunday Habitat for Humanity dedicated a new home on the north side of Kalamazoo for a mother and daughter duo who put their heart and soul into helping build the house.
Shana and her daughter put in more than 300 volunteer hours or 'sweat equity' alongside more than 200 other volunteers who together contributed more than 2,000 man hours.
In addition to helping physically build the home, Shana has also been working with Habitat for Humanity in learning how to become a skilled homeowner before and after she closes on the home.
“She's taken financial literacy classes, she's taken home ownership classes, home maintenance and repair classes,” said Don Jones of Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity. “So half of the work is up here, and half is also with your hands with a paint brush and Shana hit all of her markers and exceeded those and is ready to take off and get to closing this fall and move in and start a new life in this home.”
So far in 2011, Jones says the local Habitat chapter has closed on about seven houses and have eight others underway in the greater Kalamazoo area.
Jones says in 2012 they hope to get into home repair projects to help existing homeowners with revitalization efforts.