Merrimack Valley Habitat Dedicates Homes in Lawrence

Lawrence, MA – February 17, 2020 – Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity held a Home Dedication Ceremony on February 13, 2020, to celebrate the new homes of Henri and Annie and their six children, and Esther and her two children.

Both families have spent two years in the Habitat program, putting in a combined 600 “sweat equity” hours by volunteering at the ReStore on Andover Street in Lawrence, as well as building the homes of other habitat families. They also put in long hours building their own home. All partner families are required to contribute 240 – 360 “sweat-equity” hours towards their home, on top of buying the home on an affordable mortgage.

The dedication was led by Meegan O’Neil, Executive Director Merrimack Valley Habitat, and attended by Habitat staff, board members, volunteers, sponsors of the homes and representatives from the City of Lawrence. Vilma Martinez-Dominguez, the Community Development Director for the City of Lawrence office of Planning and Development expressed her gratitude for the work Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity does in Lawrence, and pointed out that our mission “to bring people together to build affordable homes, strengthen families and communities, and foster hope... really rings true to us [the City of Lawrence], because what the community development department does, is look to improve the quality of life for our diverse community.” She continues on that “having decent, safe and affordable housing, is what we do, this is our business, it is what we love to support, and we are here to make sure that families can secure, not only housing, but also economic stability, which contributes to really thriving communities.”

Evelyn Urena, Housing Manager for the City of Lawrence Community Development office, says she is “very grateful for the work we do in the community”.

Kevin Prendergast, Vice-president of the Board at Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity, and one of the volunteers who built these homes, thanked everyone who contributed towards the building of this duplex. He proceeded by giving recognition to all the volunteers who spent many hours working side-by-side with the partner families. Prendergast pointed out that many people were involved. Those that volunteer hours working at our various sites. Those that donate money that help fund the $150,000 average cost to build one Habitat home, and corporate and in-kind donors, from whom “a lot of the material that we put into Habitat homes is donated”.

“I was surprised to see so many people here at my home” says Henri, “and I just want to start by thanking everyone so much for being here. We are so lucky! That is because Habitat is doing everything without any discrimination.”

Henri, and his family are sincerely thankful to everyone, all the donors, the volunteers and partners, who made his dream of homeownership a reality.