December 6, 2016 | In the News
Habitat for Humanity Volunteers to Build a Home in Three Weeks
Austin Habitat for Humanity and the Austin Board of REALTORS® Foundation have partnered for their fourth annual Home for the Holidays Blitz Build
AUSTIN, TX (December 6, 2016) – In the three weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, an entire home will be constructed for a family in need, just in time for the holidays. This year, the new construction, zero-interest home will be built for Ethiopian immigrants who escaped the war-torn country in seek of a safe place to raise their two young children. The initiative is a partnership between Austin Habitat for Humanity and the Austin Board of REALTORS® (ABOR) Foundation. Coldwell Banker United, REALTORS® sales associate and ABOR Foundation board member Valorie Doyle is spearheading the build.
In the carefully orchestrated plan to make this dream a reality for the family, Austin area Realtors® will fill 20 volunteer spots per build day. Coldwell Banker United, REALTORS® sales associates have already filled several scheduled build days during the three-week building blitz.
“Seeing this project come together for the fourth year in a row now has been such an inspiration,” said Doyle. “It’s amazing to see our Austin agents come together and give back to the community in a way that really matters.”
The dream of homeownership seemed like a faraway and impossible goal for the family before their escape from Ethiopia. Now, just in time for the holidays, they will be able to move their two young children into the home where they will grow up, in a safe and welcoming environment.
The ABOR Foundation donates $85,000 each year to assist with building costs, while its members donate their time to construct a brand new home from the ground up. In order for a family to qualify for an Austin Habitat for Humanity home, they must donate 300 hours of their time towards building homes for other area families, work at the ReStore Warehouse and take homeownership classes. Once their home is complete, they will acquire a zero-interest, 30-year mortgage to repay to Austin Habitat for Humanity. Those funds, in turn, are used to provide housing for aspiring future homeowners. Once the family inherits the home, they are equipped with the financial knowledge and tools to maintain their homeownership.
Donations can be made on the ABOR Foundation website.
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