How to resolve AdBlock issue? SARATOGA SPRINGS — Two families will receive keys to their new Habitat for Humanity home at a dedication ceremony on Saturday, June 10 on Cherry Street.
With the goal of addressing the need for affordable housing, the City of Saratoga Springs generously donated 26 Cherry Street to Habitat for Humanity. Habitat partnered with the Saratoga Builders Association and community volunteers to build this home.
The Cherry Street project was largely funded through a $70,000 donation from a Thrivent Financial program called Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity. Excluding governmental funding, Thrivent Builds is Habitat’s largest single source of funding. Since 2005, it has helped the organization construct and repair more than 48,000 homes in the United States and around the world.
The two families, who are soon to be first-time homeowners, worked tirelessly alongside community volunteers to make their dream of homeownership a reality. In order to qualify for a Habitat home, each family is required to contribute 500 hours of “sweat equity” in the construction process.
Hope Caprood, who is a single mother of five children aged 10, 15, 17, and 8-year-old twins, has nearly doubled the required hours.
“I have raised my children to know that hard work and dedication equals success. It has always been a dream of mine for my children to have a place for them to call home and now I’m able to provide this thanks to Habitat. Working the sweat equity hours on my home has opened my eyes to various blessings. The first is being able to have my children be involved in the process; they have watched their home come to life. The second is the tremendous compassion and openhandedness that all of the volunteers offered. I can't thank everyone enough for every minute that they took out of their busy lives to help build our home. My family will forever pay it forward,” Caprood said.
Ashley and Bruce Smith lived with their two young boys in an overcrowded apartment and dreamed of one day owning a home. With the soaring price of real estate in Saratoga Springs, they never thought it would be possible to own a home in the community. Habitat for Humanity finances a home based on affordability making it a possibility for families like the Smiths to own a home in an otherwise unattainable market.
“Having the opportunity to assist in building our own home is such an amazing feeling. Coming from a two-bedroom apartment to owning a home where each of our boys has their own room is something that we never thought would be attainable. From getting the phone call saying we were approved to wiping down our new countertops, this whole journey has been nothing short of amazing,” said Ashley Smith.
The families will purchase their home from Habitat through a no-interest, 30-year mortgage. Mortgage payments from Habitat families like these are recycled into a “Fund for Humanity” where all payments are directed towards future Habitat projects. The investment in every Habitat family is leveraged to assist others in need. Every dollar is truly an investment in the community.
During the ceremony the families will celebrate the completion of their homes with a backyard barbeque and recognize the donors, contributors, and volunteers who made this blessing possible.
Following the ceremony, tours of the homes will be provided and the Caprood and Smith families, along with volunteers and Habitat staff, will be available for photos and interviews.
For more information, visit the website www.glensfallshabitat.org or call 518-793-7484.
