First-ever Austin Habitat Home Owner to Burn Mortgage Papers at Triple House Dedication this Saturday

Austin Habitat, Reytex Homes, Habitat Young Professionals, Samsung, and the Austin Habitat Board of Directors celebrate the journeys of the first Austin Habitat homeowner and three new homeowners

Austin, Texas - August 20, 2010 - Twenty-five years ago, Austin Habitat built its first home for Maria Washington, a single mother in need of a stable home to raise her children. This Saturday, August 21st at 10:00 am, Maria will make the final payment on her no-interest mortgage and burn her mortgage papers. The special event will be part of a larger dedication ceremony in the Meadow Lake neighborhood, where Austin Habitat will celebrate the completion of three new homes along with sponsors Reytex Homes, Habitat Young Professionals, Samsung, and the Austin Habitat Board of Directors.

Before purchasing the first Austin Habitat home in 1987,Maria Washington had been living in a two bedroom rental property with her five children, her grandchild, her sister, and her sister's two daughters. As the only male in the family, her son Andrew slept on a screened in porch, and suffered from terrible allergies, as a result. The strange odor of the house, the rats scurrying around, and the sirens passing by kept the entire family awake at night.

"Once we got in a Habitat house, we finally felt at home," Maria says. "My children seemed to sail after that- they became A/B students, and got involved in sports and activities. They were proud to have friends over to the house. Our family grew much closer together."

Today, Maria's kids are excelling. Lolita is a social worker taking classes toward her PhD, Mishwna has her master's degree in special education, Adreana has her associate's degree and is an Austin Police Department patrol officer, and Elizabeth graduated with dual degrees in economics and Spanish and is currently pursuing a master's in nursing at UT. Andrew is a graduate of Regan High with a career as a truck driver that allows him to live his dream of traveling around the country.

The special dedication ceremony will celebrate not only the journey of Maria Washington, but also the journeys of the Huerta, Arellano, and Mayorga families, who will finally achieve their dream of homeownership thanks to the generous support of the Austin community.  The three families will be neighbors in the Meadow Lake neighborhood in southeast Austin, where Austin Habitat will eventually build 25 units of affordable housing. Austin Habitat was able to purchase land in the desirable community with Affordable Housing General Obligation Bonds awarded by the City of Austin and its Austin Housing and Finance Corporation.

The three new homes were sponsored by Reytex Homes, Habitat Young Professionals (HYP), Samsung, and the Austin Habitat Board of Directors. Over the past few months, hundreds of Reytex and Samsung employees, area young professionals, board members and friends have worked hand in hand with future Austin Habitat homeowners to build the homes.

"The financial support of Reytex, HYP, Samsung and the AHFH Board of Directors helps Austin Habitat change lives," Says Michael Willard, CEO of Austin Habitat for Humanity. "Without their generosity, we would not be able to give hand-working, low-income Austin families the chance to have a simple, decent and affordable place to call home."