Todd Rogers, chief strategy officer for Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona, and Regina Crandall, volunteer family liaison for HFHCA, present housewarming gifts including a bottle of sparkling cider and a plant, to the Woldemariam-Balcha family (photo by Teri Carnicelli).

Members of the City of Phoenix YouthBuild program, who worked on the house, were present for the dedication ceremony (photos by Teri Carnicelli).

The home built for the Woldermariam-Balcha family by Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona at 4th Street and Las Palmaritas is now ready for move in. A dedication ceremony was held on May 18, with the family and officials from Habitat for Humanity on hand, as well as members of Phoenix YouthBuild who worked on the home, and Wells Fargo Bank, which supported the construction costs and also provided teams of volunteers to assist with construction.

Habitat for Humanity builds, renovates and repairs simple, affordable homes in partnership with families in need.

Kagnew Woldemariam-Balcha and his wife, Bekelech, along with their son, Dawit, 16, and daughter, Tsion, 14, emigrated from Ethiopia four years ago seeking the “American dream.” After putting in more than 1,000 hours of sweat equity on this and other Habitat homes, they are now ready to see that dream come true as the proud owners of a Platinum Leed Certified brand-new home, which includes many energy efficiencies as well as a solar power system donated by American Solar. The home is 1,336 square feet and includes three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

The land for this home was provided by the city of Phoenix Neighborhood Stabilization Program; it previously was the site of a dilapidated, vacant, foreclosed house. In addition to providing the land for the home, the Neighborhood Stabilization Program is providing the family with homebuyer education and $15,000 in purchase assistance.