Habitat for Humanity of Greater Garland (HFHGG) hosted the dedication of its 90th home built alongside the homeowners, Heather and Alfred Fickensher. The event, held Saturday, March 27, was attended by a group including HFHGG staff and volunteers along with Mayor Scott LeMay, District 2 Council Member Deborah Morris and other community leaders.
Through shelter, Habitat empowers family partners like the Fickenshers to build the strength, stability and self-reliance needed to ensure a better life for themselves and their children.
Heather and Al are both Navy veterans, and their home is part of our Veteran Build program. They have six children, one of which has a severe disability. Heather is the main caretaker of him and the other kids, while Al and the older kids work to support the family. They originally reached out to our Critical Repair program to fix their house. Through their qualification for the Texas Veterans Commission grant that we administer, HFHGG performed a condition assessment on the house. It was determined that it was too much work for the amount of funding the grant provides, and a small, unsafe environment for a family of eight. They were then enrolled in the Veteran Build program to own a home that would fit their family, be safe and affordable.
Habitat for Humanity is always a hand-up, not a handout. As part of their Homeowner Partnership Agreement, Heath
er, Al, and their family completed sweat equity hours as well as financial readiness training. They will pay an affordable mortgage over the next 15-20 years.
The Home Dedication Ceremony is a symbolic occasion where a family receives the keys to their new home and the affiliate acknowledges the generosity of sponsors and the hard work of volunteer groups and individual volunteers who helped fund and complete the project.
“The ceremony is an opportunity to recognize the prayers, hard work, sacrifice and dedication the family has put into becoming a homeowner, and also thank all of the wonderful sponsors and volunteers who have helped make this dream a reality,” said Rich Buquet, HFHGG executive director.
Photos provided by HFHGG.