Habitat Groundbreaking

Habitat For Humanity broke ground today at the site of their 37th house to be built in Washington County. It`s part of a new program called the Habitat Apostles Build, which means the funding and manpower comes from 12 area churches--based on the premise of the 12 apostles from the Bible. Julie Lopez and her three children were chosen as the lucky homeowners-to-be. Lopez says she was shocked to find out habitat chose her family for their apostles build program. "My heart stopped and I just was silent for a little while and I was like, wow, thank you God! I was very excited and happy about it," Lopez said. "Corissa talks about what she`s gonna do with her room and my oldest is already telling me how she wants to decorate it." Habitat volunteers will help the Lopez`s build their new home over the next several months, but it`s not free. "They actually are paying the cost of the materials of the house and the land. What they do receive is an interest-free mortgage which is funded through Habitat, so they make monthly payments just like everybody else," said Tommy Lewis, President of Habitat for Humanity of Washington County. "It`s a good chance to help somebody that just needs a hand up, it`s not a hand-out, they`re good people and we`re real excited for them." "Right now you`re just overwhelmed, she`s going to be a homeowner now, after 30 years of paying rent now she has something that`s going to be hers forever," said Lopez`s father Don Clardy.