Habitat For Humanity Dedicate Homes to Six Families October 6

Six hardworking, low-income families will soon receive keys to their new homes. Habitat for Humanity of East King County is hosting a home dedication ceremony to these families in the La Fortuna neighborhood in Renton.

Local elected officials, Habitat supporters and families will gather at 2 p.m. to dedicate houses for the Hassen-Abdu, Ali, Diego-Andres, Idris-Ismael, Jama-Muse, and Ortiz families. A community potluck will follow the ceremony. The address is 17286 127th Ave SE, Renton, WA. 98058.

All of the families have completed their 500 hours of sweat equity on the construction of their home or their neighbors'. They have also completed their homeowner trainings, such as budgeting and home repair.

One of the hardworking families anxiously awaiting move-in day is the Idris-Ismael family. Idris works as a hospital assistant and his wife works as a part time nursing assistant at a local nursing home. "My wife and I have had so many worries thinking about our four children sleeping in one small tiny room together, knowing that we couldn't afford to rent a larger place to live," said Idris. "Thanks to Habitat, we can afford to provide our children with a safe home, and we can focus on their education and reaching future goals."

The dedication ceremony will not only celebrate the completion of the homes, but also honor World Habitat Day. Habitat for Humanity's theme for World Habitat Day 2012, "Many Homes, One Community," highlights the vital role that decent, affordable housing plays in community stabilization and development. The focus is on the importance of homeownership in a neighborhood's progress.

Beginning on Monday, Oct. 1, 2012, and continuing throughout October and November, Habitat for Humanity and affiliated organizations will host hundreds of local events - from builds and flash mobs to parades, contests, housing forums and everything in between - to draw attention to the need for safe, decent, affordable shelter for all.

La Fortuna is a collaborative community effort built with contributions from Washington State, King County, the City of Renton, several faith based organizations, corporations, thousands of community volunteers and generous donors who help make homeownership possible for low income families.

For more information about the dedication ceremony, contact Gena Guillen atgena@habitatekc.orgor call 425.869.6007.

More about Habitat: Habitat for Humanity surpassed its 500,000 house milestone during itsmost recent fiscal year. Since the nonprofit was founded in 1976, its self-help, hand-up model has resulted in rehabbed, repaired or new housing for more than 2.5 million peopleworldwide.

Since 1988, Habitat EKC has built 119 new homes and rehabbed or repaired other houses for low income families in our community. The East King County service area incorporates the regions east of Lake Washington. The goal of this affiliate is to make it possible for low-income residents of King County to be able to purchase simple, decent, and affordable homes on the Eastside. The families who will move into these homes will put in 500 hours of their own labor as a down payment towards homeownership. Visit habitatekc.org to learn more.