Side-by-side Habitat houses on Girard Street were dedicated last month
Lemma and Mulatwa Gutema and their 17-year-old daughter received the keys to house 711, and Mulugeta and Sara Mekuria and their 3-year-old son received the keys to house 713, their new homes in Havre de Grace last month, as Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna dedicated two new homes.
The Gutemas home at 711 Girard St. and the Mekurias home at 713 Girard St. were turned over April 24 at a ceremony with community leaders, volunteers, sponsors, donors, homeowners’ families and friends.
The Rev. Dr. Jim Horn, of West Nottingham Presbyterian Church (and chair of Habitat Susquehanna’s Faith Relations Committee), gave the invocation. Also in attendance were representatives of the City of Havre de Grace, who officially welcomed the families.
Just seven months earlier, approximately 50 volunteers raised both houses simultaneously, signaling the start of the building process. Since then, volunteer groups and individuals have been coming to the site every week from Wednesday to Saturday in an effort to finish the homes together.
Habitat Susquehanna Executive Director Karen Blandford recognized the sponsorships that funded the side-by-side homes.
The Mekuria family house sponsors were: APGFCU, Bank of America, Dresher Foundation, Harford County Government and Rosedale Federal Savings & Loan Association. In-kind donors included Gutter Guys, Polk Construction and Penn-Mar Human Services.
The Gutema family home sponsors were: APGFCU, Bank of America, Bel Air United Methodist Church, Dresher Foundation, Harford County Government, Harford County Office of Disabilities, Habitat for Humanity International, the faith community, Hopewell United Methodist Church, Lowe’s, Maryland Energy Administration, Mountain Christian Church, MQC Labs, ODEC, Pepsi/Frito-Lay and Rosedale Federal Saving & Loan Association. In-kind donors included Gutter Guys and Polk Construction.
Other contributors included: Harford County Reading Council; Joppatowne Women’s Club; Sandy Barstow; Giant Food of Abingdon; Haier Group; and St. Margaret School Service Club.
A special recognition was also given to Habitat Susquehanna’s volunteers “without whom these homes could not have been built.” Thanks was given to Habitat Susquehanna’s weekly “core” volunteers; Women Build volunteers; Collegiate Challenge volunteers (from the University of Delaware, Suffolk University and Sacred Heart University); as well as the many individuals and groups who volunteered each week.
The Gutemas’ home holds special significance in several ways: It was the location of last year’s 10th annual National Women Build (created by Habitat’s Women Build program in partnership with Lowe’s that invites women to help families build strength, stability and independence through housing); it was the recipient of Faith Build activities (where local churches participate in an effort to strengthen relationships with their communities and provide congregants with opportunities to demonstrate their “faith in action”); and it incorporated accessibility modifications to the house design, such as a wheelchair lift in the front of the house, and the bathroom’s grab bars and shower to accommodate the Gutemas’ disabled daughter.
Following the dedication ceremony, attendees were able to tour the homes and talk to the homeowners. Both families originally came from Ethiopia, have lived in Harford County for approximately 15 years, and, although they were acquaintances, didn’t know the other had applied for homeownership until the building process began.
Like all Habitat homeowners, the applicant families went through the rigorous financial review process to ensure they were eligible candidates. The eligibility criteria include demonstrating a housing need; showing an ability to make monthly mortgage payments; and having the willingness to partner with Habitat Susquehanna.
The Mekurias and Gutemas contributed the required 250 “sweat equity” hours working on the construction of their homes. They participated in educational programs designed to strengthen the entire family to help ensure their success as new homeowners, such as taking mandatory financial literacy classes. They purchased their homes through an affordable mortgage and will continue to make monthly payments which in turn will go toward building more Habitat Susquehanna homes.
For more information about Habitat Susquehanna and its upcoming builds, visit www.habitatsusq.org. Interested volunteers can sign up directly on the website or contact Brianne Young, Volunteer & Community Engagement Coordinator, byoung@habitatsusq.org.
