Friday, March 29, 2024

Habitat’s building boom benefits residents

Habitat for Humanity of Denton County Carol Kyer.
Habitat for Humanity of Denton County Executive Director Carol Kyer.

Habitat for Humanity of Denton County has just completed building its 92nd home, and first-ever home in Roanoke in the Marshall Creek subdivision.

The nonprofit also began 2016 by announcing Carol Kyer of Flower Mound as the new Executive Director for the North Texas affiliate. She comes from an extensive career in working with non-profits in the North Texas area.

Kyer served for 15 years as a Trustee for the Lewisville ISD, many as the President of the Board of Directors. During her tenure on the board, she hired two superintendents to guide a staff of 6000, the largest employer in Denton County, and opened more than 25 new campuses.

Finding a calling for helping families, she has also served on the boards for the Communities in
School of North Texas, United Way of Denton County, Lewisville Education Foundation, the Children’s Advocacy Center of Denton County (CACDC) for whom she raised capital funds for the current CACDC center, multiple PTA chapters and is a member of the Cross Timbers Rotary.

Kyer’s charge is to engage the North Texas community to provide safe, affordable housing for low income families to help break the cycle of poverty.

To date Habitat has been partnering with families throughout Denton County to help provide them with the dream of homeownership. Habitat prides itself by strengthening neighborhoods with homes run by responsible, grateful families mentored by Habitat for the duration of their 10-years of zero-interest mortgage loans.

The Salazar family.
The Salazar family.

Habitat of Denton County’s partner family for its 92nd home is the Mayra Salazar family.

“She exemplifies all the values that the Habitat community stands for,” said Habitat Family Services Manager Roxayne Strong. “She’s hardworking, has overcome struggles, and is willing to do whatever it takes to raise her family in a stable and safe environment.”

Salazar is a steady, full-time employee at the Aldi Warehouse and has worked there for more than two years.

She heard about the Habitat homeownership program through friends and was referred to Hope Inc, to assist with the important credit and budgeting skills that would allow her to meet the qualifications for a Habitat home.

Her family of six lived in a small three-bedroom and one-bath rental home, with a single closet.

Thankfully, through her determination and the help of Hope Inc., Salazar was able to give her family the opportunity to qualify for a Habitat for Humanity home.

However, she didn’t stop there; she quickly completed the 200-sweat-equity hours needed before the start of her home build.

Salazar is the cornerstone of her family, the leader and sole provider. She has five reasons for her continuous strive to do better.

The oldest daughter Celia, 13, is a free spirit who loves expressing herself through drawing or painting and is well beyond her years with her love of Jazz Classics and Contemporary music.

Oldest son Hector, 11, is a typical boy who loves sports, especially soccer, and hopes to join a team after they settle into the new Habitat home.

Carla, 9, loves music and to sing; Jesus, 5, is a movie buff and action hero fan who loves Batman and Jurassic Park; then, there’s Carolina, age three-months.

Roanoke is a great fit to partner with Habitat for Humanity of Denton County thanks to their continuous efforts to provide a hand-up to residents in their city.

“We incorporated the Marshall Creek subdivision into the City of Roanoke and we have lowered Salazar’s water rates by 75-percent, because of the fixed income,” said Mayor Carl “Scooter” Gierisch, Jr.

“We voted as a community and decided it was the right thing to do. We are so happy to partner with Habitat for Humanity of Denton County and we look forward to more home builds in our area.”

Marshall Creek off of Hwy 377 is currently the site of a mobile home park. Salazar’s new home will be the first of more single-family homes to be converted from rental, mobile home parcels into permanent, mortgaged homes.

“Home ownership is a part of the very fabric of the American Dream, and for very good reasons,” said John Gavin, president of Wells Fargo Community Banking. “Homeownership is a key to wealth creation, it offers stability to children and their families, and strengthens communities, while helping to increase property values and the tax base.”

Wells Fargo, which donated $10,000 to Habitat for this build, has been making moderate to low-income housing a priority for more than 22-years and has been teaming up with Habitat for Humanity affiliates all over the country to support its efforts. However, when it comes to Habitat of Denton County, this partnership is the start of a lasting and rewarding endeavor.

The 92nd home is the pilot home for a new initiative, “50 Homes in 5 Years” (“Habitat 50 in 5”), an aggressive goal to build 50 more homes in Denton County by the year 2020 and to develop a plan for an entire neighborhood, which will consist of 34 safe, energy efficient and beautiful homes, potentially including a community garden for its residents.

“I am excited to be involved with Habitat’s ‘50 in 5’ campaign,” said Kyer. “Through sweat-equity and good financial training, we can help develop communities of neighbors that are proud to be citizens of Denton County.”

Salazar’s hope is that: “God gives me the good health I need to work and achieve so that I can show fellow single moms that by having faith you, too, can purchase your own home.”

If you’d like to know more about Habitat for Humanity of Denton County and their Habitat 50 in 5 goal, visit their website: hfhdentoncounty.org and follow them on Facebook.

CTG Staff
CTG Staff
The Cross Timbers Gazette News Department

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