DEKALB — Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County held a duplex ground blessing Thursday at 1209 Pleasant St. in DeKalb for what leaders called the organization’s largest project to date. Executive Director Kim McIver said Habitat typically builds one single family home each year, but the duplex will allow the organization to serve two local families through its no interest homeownership program. One family has already been selected for the project.
McIver said, “ So this is our largest project to date. So on average, we do one single family home a year. I wanted to serve more of our neighbors here in DeKalb County, so we are doing a duplex this year, which allows us to serve two families. We are really proud that we entrench our partner families in the community, and so they are growing up in a community environment, becoming a part of a neighborhood. I think it’s extremely important to their foundation and success as a partner family of ours.”
Courtney Strohacker, executive director of the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau and a Habitat board member, welcomed supporters, community partners and city officials to the ceremony.
DeKalb Mayor Cohen Barnes praised McIver’s leadership and the organization’s work expanding affordable housing opportunities in the city.
Barnes said, “Kim is just a forward thinker, thinks outside the box, comes up with creative ways with limited resources to make the largest impact. So we moved a home, actually transported it, and delivered it to a new lot. We’re building a duplex here right now, and those are things that aren’t traditional for Habitat for Humanity. But this is a great way that we’re getting people the opportunity to have actual home ownership and affordable home ownership, to be able to start the next phase of their life.”
Donors and volunteers are encouraged to sign up for future build days through Habitat’s website at h4hdcil.com