MICHELLE King and Nicola Madden spent a busy Monday packing, moving and celebrating both women now have the keys to their new Habitat for Humanity homes.
The Habitat homes were dedicated in a special ceremony on Sunday and now Michelle and her four boys, Lee, David, Guy and Max, and Nicola and her three girls, Kimberly, Mary-Louise and Courtney have moved into the Cloten Road residences.
Work on the homes started on April 7 this year and in just a few short weeks, dedicated volunteers have completed two of four scheduled houses.
Michelle and Nicola are the first Stratford families to partner with Habitat for Humanity Taranaki, who describe their organisation as a hand-up for families.
Both women have been required to work for their new homes each of them had to put in 500 hours of 'sweat equity' to complete the houses.
They also have to pay a mortgage on their new houses, but the Habitat way ensures they can cover the cost of owning their own home.
The build was helped along by the generosity of many local organisations, including the Taranaki Electricity Trust who granted $130,000 for the cash cost towards both homes, the TSB Community Trust who granted $42,000 towards the cost of land purchase and the Stratford District Council who sold Habitat the land at a very fair price.
When the Stratford Press spoke to the families on Sunday, they were both overwhelmed to be in possession of the keys to their new homes.
"The house is absolutely beautiful. This has been a great process and I have made some wonderful friends. I really want to thank everyone who has been involved," said Nicola. "I am rapt completely over the moon. Habitat for Humanity has been a wonderful experience," said Michelle.
Michelle was so happy to have the keys to her new home that she and her family spent Sunday night in the house.
"We took mattresses and stayed the night on Sunday before we moved in properly on Monday we really wanted to get in there as soon as possible," she said.
Habitat for Humanity Taranaki chairman Ross Cleland was happy to see two more families benefit from the work of the international organisation.
"From day one, this Habitat build in Stratford has been a pleasure to be involved with. The community has been warm, welcoming and willing; from the Stratford District Council staff to the many local volunteers including high school students, the conservation team, the retired farmers and the many in between who just turned up to help.
"Nicola and Michelle now have a secure and warm environment to raise their families in, at an affordable price. We look forward to building homes for the next two families on the remaining land," he said.
It is hoped that work on the next Habitat homes in Stratford will begin in August.
Pictured, MICHELLE King and her sons Lee, David, Guy and Max and Nicola Madden and her daughters Kimberly, Mary-Louise and Courtney were presented the keys to their new Habitat for Humanity homes on Sunday.
Habitat homes completed - families move in
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