A newly completed Habitat for Humanity house represents a bright future for Tyleah Pleasant and her daughters.
Habitat officials dedicated the two-story house in Cincinnati's Evanston neighborhood on Saturday, Oct. 16. Ms. Pleasant, who will soon buy the hose from Habitat, thanked the volunteers who built it -- and gave thanks to God.
"God had his hands on this entire project from the start," she told an audience of friends and family at the dedication. Her two daughters were with her.
Church coalitions that work with Habitat teamed with Habitat staff and contractors to build the house. Volunteers from the Shalom Coalition led the effort, aided by volunteers from the WestFed and Eastside coalitions. (St. Barnabas is a member of Eastside, and supports Habitat with contributions of money and volunteer labor.)
The new house at 1731 Holloway Avenue is a typical Habitat collaboration. Companies donated siding, windows and appliances in support. Volunteers and contractors provided the labor, with Habitat's supervision. A neighbor even allowed Habitat to dig into her yard to make a sewer connection.
As Habitat requires, Ms. Pleasant put in "sweat equity" labor on the house to work off her down payment. In exchange, she will receive a no-interest loan to become a first-time homeowner.
Ms. Pleasant said the experience has encouraged her to give back. She already plans to be a volunteer working on another Habitat house, and hopes to get her church involved in a coalition that will work with Habitat.
Habitat, founded in 1976, is a nonprofit Christian ministry dedicated to building affordable housing and helping families become homeowners. Habitat's Cincinnati affiliate builds houses in southwest Ohio and nearby parts of Kentucky and Indiana.