SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — On Friday, Habitat for Humanity celebrated the completion of two new homes on Sunset Avenue in South Portland.
These homes are part of a broader initiative to increase the availability of affordable housing in Cumberland County.
Habitat for Humanity said they plan to build six more homes in this area, adding to the inventory of affordable homes in Cumberland County.
Two Maine families have already moved into these newly built homes, one of which belongs to Sarah Henderson and her four children.
Sarah, a South Portland native, had to move an hour away due to rising rents, leading to a lengthy daily commute to her job in the city.
Her journey with Habitat for Humanity began years ago.
"My dad one day showed me a newspaper clipping that Habitat was coming to South Portland. That was before COVID, a long time ago," Henderson said.
Despite the daunting process, she never gave up hope, even when the odds seemed insurmountable.
"Back then they did these meetings, you had to go in and sit in a room with 40 other people, and you just think, 'It’ll never be me.' Then, you have to do interviews, and I'd always be like, 'That one went really bad.' But then they kept calling me back, so I just did whatever they asked," Henderson explained.
After a year of persistence, she received the life-changing news.
"They called me at work, and I cried," Henderson said.
Potential homeowners must meet specific income qualifications and contribute significantly to their new homes. They pay one-third of their monthly income toward the mortgage, taxes, and insurance and invest time and labor building their future homes.
"After they have been approved for their home, they have to put in 275 hours of sweat equity. That’s building their home, working in the restoration, doing community service, and doing financial training to make sure they are set up for their future," Tara Hill, executive director of Habitat for Humanity, explained.
The program aims to empower families like the Hendersons to own homes they otherwise couldn't afford.
"You're still doing the work, you know what it's for, but it never seems real, even when I closed on the house it didn't seem real until I walked in with the key myself," Henderson said.
Habitat for Humanity's efforts in South Portland are part of a larger plan, with 12 additional homes being constructed in Standish. These initiatives represent the organization's ongoing commitment to providing affordable housing and supporting community development.