The Morris A. Mechanic Foundation has awarded Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna a $10,000 grant toward its efforts to provide affordable housing opportunities in Harford and Cecil counties. Since 2007, the foundation has donated a total of $162,500 towards Habitat Susquehanna’s mission.
“The Morris A. Mechanic Foundation is proud to continue our relationship with Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna,” said Carolyn Lambdin, President of Morris A. Mechanic Foundation, Inc. “We believe in their mission — a world where every person deserves a decent place to live. Their endeavor of making homeowners truly invested, not only in the future of themselves and their families but the community as well, is a concept the Morris A. Mechanic Foundation fully supports.”
Karen Blandford, executive director for Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna, said: “It’s thanks to the philanthropic ideals of the Morris A. Mechanic Foundation, as well as the support of other generous sponsors, that we’re able to rejoice in another year of new homeowners. Due to the pandemic, we were impacted both financially and by the number of volunteers who could build with us. Even so, three families will be spending their first Christmas in their new homes.”
Grimaldy Pellot-Duprey, mother of two sons, went to settlement in June. She became the first homeowner to move into the first of three duplexes being built by Habitat Susquehanna’s volunteers on South Stokes Street in Havre de Grace. Her next-door neighbors are Gerard and Charlene Basila, parents to a toddler daughter, who went to settlement in September.
The third home was a rehab project on James Avenue in Aberdeen, purchased by Habitat homeowner Assefa Beratu.
As is the case with all approved applicants, the Habitat homeowners were required to contribute 250 “sweat equity” hours; take mandatory financial literacy classes; and, purchase their homes through an affordable mortgage.
“Although we couldn’t welcome these families home through our traditional in-person dedication ceremonies,” Blandford said, “we celebrate with them in spirit. We hope they have a very merry Christmas.”
Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna, Inc. is an ecumenical Christian housing organization devoted to building, renovating and repairing houses in partnership with the community in Cecil and Harford counties. Since its inception in 1993, Habitat Susquehanna has served over 700 families through its Homeownership, Repair and Financial Literacy programs. For more information, call 410-638-4434 (Harford County) or 410-398-3399 (Cecil County), or visit www.habitatsusq.org.