2 HdG Families Move Into Habitat Houses

HAVRE DE GRACE, MD — Two families moved into their new homes in Havre de Grace this week, and the city and nonprofit leaders gathered for a special housewarming to celebrate. Both residences were built by Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna on Girard Street.

Volunteers worked from September to April constructing the houses for the families. There was a core group of regular volunteers plus organizations participating in the seven-month project.

The Mekuria and Gutema families both originally came from Ethiopia and have lived in Harford County for about 15 years, according to Habitat Susquehanna.

"...although they were acquaintances, they didn’t know the other had applied for home-ownership until the building process began," the organization said in a statement.

This week at a special ceremony, both families were welcomed to their new homes by officials from Habitat and the city of Havre de Grace.

Lemma and Mulatwa Gutema and their 17-year-old daughter received the keys to 713 Girard Street.

A special wheelchair lift was installed and other modifications were made to accommodate Kalkidan,the Gutemas' daughter who has been disabled since she was 1 year old. A wheelchair lift in the front of the house and grab bars in the bathroom were among the special features built into the design.

"We thank Habitat for giving us this opportunity," the family said in a statement, noting they had moved from Ethiopia to Yemen before becoming permanent U.S. residents in 2005. They said that moving with a child who was disabled presented many challenges.

"After migrating to two countries, two states in the USA and two apartments in Maryland, we will finally settle in ONE house," the family said. "It is our hope that this will help bring peace to our mind, rest to our body and benefit to our finances."

At the same time the Gutemas' house was ready, Mulugeta and Sara Mekuria and their 3-year-old son picked up their keys for 711 Girard Street.

Mulugeta Mekuria, who has been working at Rite Aid since 2005, had lived in an apartment in Aberdeen for eight years. He came to the U.S. in 2004 from Ethiopia and said with starting a family, he and his wife were looking for a larger space to accommodate them.

Both the Gutema and Mekuria families worked 250 hours on constructing their homes, as required by the organization. Here are some other criteria that they had to meet to become eligible:

• Demonstrate need
• Show ability to make monthly mortgage payments
• Take financial literacy classes

The families bought their homes through an affordable mortgage and will make monthly payments that will go toward building more Habitat Susquehanna homes.

Habitat Susquehanna will celebrate its 25-year anniversary this year. In that time, it has served more than 700 families in Harford and Cecil counties through its homeownership, financial literacy and repair programs.

Photos courtesy of Yvonne Alston.