HARLINGEN — A light green bungalow with white trim was added yesterday to the Habitat for Humanity home list in the city.
The home at 415 S. K Street near Tyler Avenue was dedicated and keys handed over to the new owner, Sue Groves.
“Thank you guys for coming today, and I am so grateful to be the beneficiary of this home,” Groves said. “I’d like to thank Habitat for Humanity …”
Mayor Chris Boswell and several city commissioners were present for the unveiling of the new home.
“This isn’t the first one of these that we’ve done, and it’s not the second or the third,” Boswell told the crowd. “The commissioners always come to these, our city manager and our staff come to these, the Chamber comes to these, and I think it’s a reflection of how special we think this program is and how important it is for the community.”
One commissioner present, Ruben De La Rosa of District 4, welcomed his new neighbor.
“A new vote that I’m getting for my district,” De La Rosa said to laughter. “I welcome Ms. Groves to our neighborhood; I live just two blocks away.
“I think it’s a great thing, and a great investment and it also beautifies our neighborhood,” he added. “One house at a time, and pretty soon all the vacant lots in Harlingen will be filled with these houses, and I think it’s a good thing.”
Habitat for Humanity of the Rio Grande Valley was founded in 1988, and since then has built more than 120 homes throughout the Valley.
“This property here was a combined effort of many different organizations, and many different people contributed to this, most especially the Harlingen-San Benito Housing Finance Corporation which donated the lot,” said Wayne Lowry, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of the Rio Grande Valley.
“Last week, we closed on another property to build a house on North A Street here in Harlingen, and right now we have three lots in our inventory and we’ve already got our next year planned out for the houses in Harlingen,” Lowry added.
“This isn’t a one-and-done or a two-and-done,” he said. “It’s something that will continue to grow and grow in our community.”
Founded — 1988
Homes Built — More than 120
Latest Home — 415 S. K Street, Harlingen
Contact — 1305 Oklahoma St., Harlingen, 956-686-7455
Website — habitatrgv.org
Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization working in nearly 1,400 communities across the United States and in approximately 70 countries. People in your community and all over the world partner with Habitat to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage.
Families in need of decent, affordable housing apply for homeownership with their local Habitat for Humanity.
Each local Habitat’s family selection committee selects homeowners based on three criteria: Level of need, willingness to partner and ability to pay a mortgage.
In addition to new construction, Habitat also renovates existing homes in many communities, particularly in urban areas.
Source: Habitat for Humanity
