Habitat for Humanity hands over three Las Vegas homes

Families move into homes they helped to build since January

Jinae West

Victor Valdera and his mother, Herna, open the front door to their new home. Three homes were dedicated Friday by Habitat for Humanity and its sponsors to families.

By Jinae West (contact)

Friday, July 17, 2009 | 4:33 p.m.

Habitat for Humanity

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Habitat homes

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Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas

Three families received keys to their new Habitat for Humanity homes Friday.

Guy Amato, president and chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity in Las Vegas, said the project broke ground in January. He said in the fiscal year ending June 30, the organization has built 10 homes and logged more than 30,000 hours of volunteer work.

"It's a real significant number and a real compliment to the community because it's all volunteers from around the valley," Amato said.

A group gathered outside the homes to recognize those who donated their time, money and efforts to help make the dedication possible. The Dew, Santana and Valdera families also were introduced and given a round of applause. Each family received a Bible and a tool kit because, Amato said jokingly, the work on a house is never finished.

The three homes, all in the 1500 block of London Porter Court just south of McCarran International Airport, were dedicated by members of Habitat for Humanity and the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors.

Rosa Santana, who works as a housekeeper at St. Rose Dominican Hospital, cried tears of joy when it was her turn to speak. She has been renting two rooms from a friend while helping to build her house.

With faith, she said she knew she would make it far with her three children. She thanked Habitat for Humanity because she "learned with discipline and saving, anybody can achieve anything," she said through a translator.

Similarly, Victor Valdera and Soretta Dew thanked the staff and supporters for their help.

"Without your sweat, blood and tears, we'd probably be living in an apartment for the rest of our lives," Valdera said.

Dew was emotional when she walked to the front of the group. She held her hand over her face and said she was at a loss of words.

"It's all right, Soretta," someone in the crowd said.

Dew told them it was difficult at times building the home in the heat and dust under the desert sun because she has asthma. "But I had to do this for me and my kids," Dew said.

To qualify for the program, Amato said families can't earn more than 60 percent of the area's median income as defined by Housing and Urban Development ($39,240 in the Las Vegas area) but must earn a minimum salary because a mortgage is required. In addition, each adult in the household must perform 300 hours of volunteer labor to stay in the program and purchase a home.

Amato handed the families their house keys and watched as each cut a red ribbon to get into their front doors.

"It's truly a blessing. I'm just so happy," Dew said. "It was hard work, and some days I was sick, but I'd come in anyway to work. You got to do what you got to do."

Amato said while Habitat for Humanity's goal is to create homes for those who need them, it's also a way to build a sense of community by bringing people together. He said sometimes there are bank presidents working side by side with busboys, so it breaks down stereotypes and conceptions people have of one another.

"And by the time they leave the job site, they've changed their perspective on the world," he said. "I believe that's as much part of our mission as it is building the house. Building the house is the activity, the end product is the house, but really what the mission is is to create that sense that everybody does deserve a place to live."

Discussion: 17 comments so far…

By Babyboomer

7/17/09 at 4:38 p.m.

Suggest removal

Sometimes it's just the "jump start" they need. Good for them. I wish them all well.
By rejco100

7/17/09 at 4:47 p.m.

Suggest removal

If you are not an Evangelical Christian Holy Roller YOU WILL NOT GET HOUSE!
By LasVegas2009

7/17/09 at 5 p.m.

Suggest removal

rejco100: In Chicago they gave some homes to some Muslims so that pretty much disproves your hate speech. Maybe you should spend a little more time trying to be "Christ Like" and a little less spewing hate.
By Babyboomer

7/17/09 at 5:01 p.m.

Suggest removal

We'e not talking about joining a cult here REJCO...so they are given a Bible...it's just a gesture..do with it as you want.
By Ds_Gentle_Master

7/17/09 at 5:46 p.m.

Comment removed by staff.
By rejco100

7/17/09 at 6:04 p.m.

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See how EVIL the Evangelical Chrisianity Insanity people are; you reveal the truth and out come the dagers!
By rejco100

7/17/09 at 6:50 p.m.

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Can't the Evangelical Christians do anything nice for someone without making Gawd keep tabs on a "Do Good" Talley Sheet hoping it will unlock some make-believe gates in the clouds?
By karebear

7/17/09 at 8:41 p.m.

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Finally a story that looks like Vegas has some heart and here is rejco100 spewing all this hate. Very well put Gentle Master! I wish these people the very best that life has to offer them in their new homes! God bless.
By revtomperl

7/17/09 at 10:02 p.m.

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In Buffalo, NY the first project they did was in partnership with a very nice very muslim family. Rejco - I am very liberal and a Christian, Millard Fuller in fact grew up in the same denomination of which I am a part where we welcome all people. I am not evangelical - all kinds of people take part in Habitat projects including Jewish congregations and every type of Christian imaginable. They would even love you, Rejco100 - whoever you are. I think God just called and said be good to Rejco, he needs lots of love.
By geenab65

7/18/09 at 10:53 p.m.

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Just pray for him and hopes that he never needs housing or a handout.
By dipstick

7/19/09 at 4:18 a.m.

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H for H does more for the little guy than any other organization in this country. pray for rejco and hope that he's not dealing blackjack when you double down.