On September 18, Habitat for Humanity of Berks County celebrated their latest home dedication and their first for the Buttonwood Gateway Neighborhood.
“This is the beginning of a neighborhood,” said Executive Director, Tim Daley, “there is vision and hope that you can see. There is a future here, and you are witnessing it.”
Jose DeLaCruz, along with his wife and daughter, were living in a rental home that was hard to keep warm in the winter. The home also had an infestation of mice, roaches and fleas. So when a friend sent them some information about the Habitat Berks homeowner program, they checked it out right away. They learned the address of a recent Habitat home and drove by it and fell in love.”
“This is my home,” DeLaCruz said.
They completed an application right away, the Habitat Berks family selection committee approved their application and they got right to work. The DeLaCruz family completed their sweat equity hours by volunteering at the Habitat for Humanity of Berks County ReStore, working on their home and attending financial education classes.
“We witnessed their desire and determination to become homeowners in the City of Reading,” explained Executive Director, Tim Daley.
This was the first Habitat Berks home dedication in the Buttonwood Gateway neighborhood. Next, the organization will be building on nearby Miltimore Street.
“These are great days,” said Daley. “If it’s true that it takes a village,” Daley continued, “then understand we need to build that village. That’s our responsibility.”
