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MEDIA INVITE: Hard Hats, House Keys and New Neighbors: Two Construction Workers and Their Families to Celebrate Habitat Homeownership TODAY
Color corrected Ramiez Photo
Larisa G. and Isaias R. kiss their 11-month-old baby, Mathias. A dual-home dedication will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at their home in Cornerstone Creek. Another couple, Yaimeris F. and Leorge H., will also celebrate. The two couples will live across the street from one another in Cornerstone Creek.
OKLAHOMA CITY —Hard hats, house keys, and new neighbors will come together as two construction workers and their families celebrate the purchase of new, energy-efficient, and affordable Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity (COHFH) homes at 2 p.m. TODAY, Thursday, Sept. 17, at their new houses in Cornerstone Creek.
Isaias R. works in construction for Crossland Construction. He and Larisa G. are the parents of 11-month-old Mathias. Larisa wrote in the family’s New Home Construction program materials that her parents once hoped to purchase a Habitat home, but that hope never became a reality.
As they prepared for Mathias’ birth, Larisa and Isaias began thinking more about the stability they wanted to provide for their family. They applied for the Habitat homeownership program, partnered with COHFH and secured a mortgage before completing the requirements to purchase their home at cost with no down payment.
“Today, making that dream come true means so much to me because I feel like I’m accomplishing a dream that began with my parents,” Larisa stated.
She said her parents are proud to see her family have this opportunity. A home of their own will offer the family peace of mind and a place to make lasting memories.
“Homeownership will give us the foundation to achieve those goals,” Larisa said.
CUTLINE: Yaimeris F. and Leorge H. pose for a recent photo. They are one of two families who will celebrate purchasing new Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity homes during a dual-home dedication at 2 p.m. TODAY, Thursday, Sept. 17, at their new Habitat home in Cornerstone Creek.
The second family celebrating will live directly across the street on Foundation Way. Yaimeris F. and her partner, Leorge H., moved to the United States about four years ago. Leorge works as an ironworker for Titan Construction.
“Like many families, we started from scratch, with the hope of getting ahead through our effort and dedication,” Yaimeris wrote in her biography, translated from Spanish.
Yaimeris works as a supervisor at the Courtyard by Marriott Oklahoma City Downtown. She said she and Leorge work hard to achieve their goals and build a stable life together. Their plans include starting a business and raising a family in a home of their own.
“This house means much more than a place to live; it represents hope, stability and a new beginning for our family,” Yaimeris said.
The houses are the 1,178th and 1,179th homes Habitat has built since 1990. COHFH Chair/CEO Ann Felton Gilliland said construction continues at the nonprofit’s newest and largest affordable-housing development. Framing of the first Phase II home is scheduled to begin near the end of September, pending the construction schedule.
“These families helped build their own homes and those of other Habitat families,” Felton Gilliland said. “As we prepare to begin framing homes in Phase II, donor support will help us continue building toward our Cornerstone Creek vision of 450 affordable homes, three parks and a gazebo. Every little bit helps as we work to ensure everyone has a decent place to live in Central Oklahoma.”
To donate, text MAKEHOMEHAPPEN to 50155. For more information, call 405-232-4828 or visit www.cohfh.org.
