Written by Heather Harbin, KHTS AM 1220
The “Santa Clarita Valley Veteran’s New Home Community,” located on Centre Pointe Parkway, will include 78 homes for veterans in total.
The project is now in its second phase where 28 homes will be built and will close in the fall of 2016. Phase one of the project was finished last year, with veterans and their families already living in 26 homes.
“There are so many young people (in Santa Clarita) who have gone off to Iraq and Afghanistan and given a great risk to themselves and their families,” said Donna Deutchman, chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity of San Fernando/Santa Clarita Valleys. “They come home… They’ve suffered great losses but they are also incredible people who have gained great strengths as veterans. We want to capture those skills and those strengths and keep it in Santa Clarita, one of the greatest, most patriotic cities in America, and give these veterans a home to come back to.”
All of the veterans that will be or are currently living in the veteran’s new home community will have a low cost, affordable mortgage, said Deutchman, adding that Habitat for Humanity has to raise $65,000 from the community for each home.
“Every penny of it goes to build,” Deutchman said, “and we wait 30 to 40 years to get that money back at 0 percent interest. That means that we have to be fundraising every day of the week.”
Not only residents and veterans participated in Thursday’s “TEAMBuild,” Home Depot also had 160 associates on hand to frame houses, plant trees and paint fascia’s.
“We’re really proud to be able to help and help all of our veterans (and ensure they) have a safe and secure place to call home,” said John Cruz, district manager for the Home Depot in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys. “Our goal is to continue to do these projects to help our heroes in the United States… We’re very proud to be able to serve them, we consider it an honor.”
Veteran Evanova Aracely Jimenez said she became “teary-eyed” seeing people come out to volunteer their time.
“It’s been amazing to see the progress,” said Jimenez, “(My family is grateful) be honored to get an opportunity to have a home and to get that dream. I’m grateful.”
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