MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – Habitat for Humanity of Berkeley County has partnered with Hunter Quinn Homes to build a Moncks Corner woman and her family the home of their dreams.
“I’m just enjoying it. I’m just enjoying it,” stated Melido Ferguson who will soon call the single-story house located off North Highway 52 in Moncks Corner home.
Ferguson watched on with excitement Tuesday as crews worked around the clock to make her dreams of becoming a first-time homeowner a reality.
The goal is to build the house in its entirety in just 60 hours. The build started bright and early Tuesday morning at 6 a.m. Crews won’t stop until the job is done — and by the deadline.
“It’s going to change my life in so many ways,” she stated. “Life has been difficult. In 2017, I suffered the loss of my husband, having to raise my daughter as a single mom.”
George Druyos, the CEO for Habitat for Humanity of Berkeley County, says for nearly 30 years his organization’s mission has been to build safe, affordable housing for families in need like Melido’s.
“Melido and her daughter, they’ve just got such a tremendous desire to be in a home and they are such a great family. They have such a great appreciation for the program that we couldn’t ask for anything more,” stated Druyos.
For this particular project, Habitat for Humanity partnered with Hunter Quinn Homes to build Melido’s new house under a pretty strict deadline. But according to Todd Nowicki, his company is up for the challenge.
“We’ve spent the last three months preparing for this,” said Nowicki. “We feel pretty comfortable. There’s always stress when you’re building a house.”
The ranch-style house comes equipped with three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
“It’s about 1250 square feet,” explained Nowicki. “It’s a nice little cottage. It’s perfect for the family that’s going to be living in it.”
Building this home would set the average person back by about $175,000 dollars, stated Druyos.
“When we provide the house to the homeowner, they move in about $110,000, so all the additional costs they save is done by the volunteers and then their mortgages is much less because of the volunteer efforts and the donations,” he stated.
According to Habitat of Humanity of Berkeley County, the journey to homeownership includes trainings and financial classes, as well as completing 350 hours of sweat equity, working alongside construction volunteers to build the recipient’s future Habitat home.
In addition to affordable monthly mortgage payments, partner families are responsible for the down payment, ultimately providing them with the foundation for strength and stability for their future.
While this is not exactly a handout, Melido says she’s grateful for the hand up as well as the kindness of strangers that have made it possible for her and her family to have a safe roof over her head and a new outlook on life.
“To all the single mothers, single fathers out there. Keep hoping. Keep praying and most of all keep your head up,” she stated.
Since its founding in Berkeley County in 1990, Habitat for Humanity has helped build nearly 40 homes for families in the area.
The Habitat build is expected to be completely finished by 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Melido and her family will move into their new house shortly thereafter.
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