Mayor Patrick Murphy congratulates the Medeiros and Pol families as they move into their new homes.
Last Thanksgiving, Sandra Medeiros was notified that her application was accepted by Habitat for Humanity.
This Thanksgiving, she and her five sons will celebrate in their new home.
They and Lorna Pol and her family were given the keys to the duplex at 49-51 Rock Street in the city’s Acre neighborhood Tuesday afternoon.
Last year at this time the lot, donated to Habitat by the city, was just dirt. Since then, 1,100 volunteers, including Sandra Medeiros and Lorna Pol put 9,900 hours of work into building the house. Another duplex is in the process of being built next door.
The Rock Street project furthers the city’s vision for the continued revitalization of the Acre neighborhood, which has been ongoing for 15 years. It is the first project Habitat has done in Lowell since the construction of three duplexes on Harmony Way in the city’s Back Central neighborhood in 2004.
Sandra Medeiros hugs Habitat for Humanity Construction Manager Scott Carpenter.
The organization has built 24 homes in the region since 1991 in Bedford, Billerica, Reading, Westford and Lowell.
Those chosen to own the homes are not given them for free; they are granted and must pay back a 0% 30-year mortgage. Applicants are vetted to determine they do have a steady income and are required to invest 400 hours of sweat equity in building their home.
Sponsors for the Rock Street project include: Thrivent Financial, Netscout, Cisco, RE/MAX Prestige, Progress Software, Litle & Co.; IBEW 103; and Greater Lowell Technical High School.
For more information about Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell, visit http://lowellhabitat.org/
The groundbreaking for the Rock Street houses on October 25, 2012.
Sandra Medeiros helping to lift a wall of her home into place on February 5.
Room 50 