A Second Chance at Grace
Owning a home once seemed impossible to Lourdes Rios, a single mom who still remembers spending a tough 18 months in homeless shelters in New York City with her daughter Yamilette. Now, thanks to Habitat for Humanity-Greater Columbus and Abbott Nutrition, they will be celebrating Thanksgiving this year in their new home on the east side of Columbus.
"I am very fortunate to be in this position," says Lourdes, a native of Puerto Rico where she once worked as an LPN. Living in central Ohio for the past three years, she is working again and in a position to pay the no-interest, zero-percent mortgage for her Habitat home. She is also required to perform 200-250 hours of "sweat equity" for Habitat, constructing her own home with the help of volunteers, and often lending a hand at the Affiliate's office headquarters.
Lourdes chose the site for her new home in part because of its proximity to the auto parts manufacturing company where she works assembling automobile seats. An elementary school is located nearby for 12-year-old Yamilette as well. "My daughter is excited about having her own room and being able to pick the shade of green to paint her walls once we move into the house."
The road to homeownership hasn't necessarily been any easy one for Lourdes. "Qualifying for the Habitat mortgage took a lot of steps," she said. "I just figured if I was meant to have the house - I would get it." She selected a three-bedroom ranch that will be built in a charming Columbus neighborhood, largely by volunteers from Abbott Nutrition, who is sponsoring the build. (An executive at Abbott is even helping Lourdes with her written English.)
"Thank you, Habitat and Abbott Nutrition," Lourdes says. "I look forward to meeting the people who work for your company. You are making a big difference for my family - it has been a hard journey for me."
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