SAN ANTONIO – Christmas came early for one local woman as she turned the key, opened the door and walked into her brand new home in the Coleman Ridge subdivision on the Southwest Side, thanks to Habitat For Humanity.
"Come on in" said Laura Farias as she welcomed friends and members of the Habitat For Humanity staff inside. "I am just grateful and thankful for everybody that helped out."
Farias and volunteers starting building her home in August. It is a three bedroom, two bath home that covers 1,080 square-feet. It also has sodded front and back yards. The back is also fenced and had a storage shed.
As part of the program to qualify for the home, Farias had a major role in the building process. She actually spent more than the 300 hours required by Habit. She was actually closer to 340, about 70 of those were from family members. Farias said she was there every Saturday from the foundation pour to the last stroke of the paint brush. Something she said makes owning the home all the more satisfying.
"Knowing that I helped out doing it means more to me than just having somebody do it for you," Farias said.
Farias was excited about the whole house, but was especially pleased with the washer and dryer area after having to use the laundry room at her old apartment complex.
"I just actually purchased my washer and dryer just the other day. It was a big expense," she said.
She was also excited about her stove and already had her first cooking experience planned.
"Since we are in the holidays it is probably going to be tamales," Farias said.
Farias not only took part in building the house, but she also took required classes learning how to care for her new house and how to budget her money.
"(It's) not going to be the same as being in an apartment. It is going to be a little more expensive, but it's all worth it," Farias said.
Farias was the 55th family to close on a Habitat For Humanity house this year.
"It's great seeing them through the journey and working so hard, being so motivated and learning so much in the process," said Blanca Salazar with Habitat For Humanity.
"(It) gives new meaning to 'I'll be home for Christmas,'" Farias said.