Lancaster Lebanon Habitat for Humanity will celebrate the completion of its Elizabethtown Build, located at 50 East Washington St., on Saturday, May 21 at 11:00 am. The dedication, followed by a tour of the three-bedroom home, is open to the community.
Genet Alemayehu and Yitawos Mohommed, the homebuyers of the energy-efficient, single-family home on East Washington Street, are purchasing the home from Habitat at an affordable, zero-percent interest mortgage. They had been living in an overcrowded apartment in Mountville with their two children and Alemayehu’s mother. Despite full-time employment, the couple, originally from Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, was unable to afford a larger, local rental.
“We learned about the homeownership program through friends who are Habitat homeowners…we even volunteered at the ReStore in Lancaster and donated hours to help our friends earn sweat equity,” shared Alemayehu. Together, she and her husband have completed 500 hours of sweat equity toward the building of their future home.
As part of Habitat’s homeownership program, the organization provides families with the skills necessary to become confident, successful homeowners, including first-time homebuyer programs and financial counseling.
“Ninety percent of our homeowner families are living in their Habitat homes today, and 67 percent of all Habitat homeowners increase their income,” stated Stacie Reidenbaugh, Executive Director of Lancaster Lebanon Habitat for Humanity. “A Habitat home not only provides stability, it provides hope and a brighter future for children.”
Habitat partnered with Elizabethtown Chamber of Commerce, Habitat for Humanity campus chapters of Elizabethtown Area High School, Elizabethtown Borough, Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ Church, Elizabethtown American Legion Post 329 and Messick’s to complete this project.
The home dedication will be followed by light
refreshments, provided by Alemayehu and Mohammed. Anyone interested in
attending can RSVP at rsvp@llhfh.org or call 717.392.8836.
