Habitat Dedicates Final Four Homes in Stratton Flats
Since 2012, Habitat has built 40 homes in the Gypsum neighborhood
Habitat for Humanity Vail Valley celebrated the completion of its Stratton Flats neighborhood on Saturday, August 24th with its annual home dedication ceremony. The last four houses in the development were finished in August 2019 when all of the new families moved into in their homes.
A combined 1,225 sweat equity hours were completed by HFHVV’s four newest homeowners building their homes and the homes of their neighbors. They all will make monthly payments on a low-cost, no-interest mortgage, which in turn will be used to fund additional HFHVV homes.
“To have my own home and to not have to move from place to place is such a blessing,” said Vicky Reyes, one of HFHVV’s newest homeowners. “It is so exciting to decorate my house, to put pictures on my walls and to organize the furniture in my rooms.”
From 2012-2019, HFHVV built 40 homes in partnership with 40 families in Stratton Flats. In total 150 people, including 90 children, reside in the community. During the seven years of construction, local volunteers, AmeriCorps members and out-of-town groups contributed over 110,000 volunteer hours, which equals $2.2 million in building costs saved.
“We are thrilled to have partnered with 40 families to build stable, affordable homes in Stratton Flats,” said John Welaj, HFHVV’s Executive Director. “As we tie a bow on this neighborhood, we will ramp up our building efforts at Grace Avenue and will continue the hard work needed to accomplish our long-term goal of serving 100 families by 2021.”
In recent weeks, HFHVV has started construction on its newest development, Grace Avenue Residences. Twelve homes will be built in the south Gypsum neighborhood on land adjacent to Red Hill Elementary School, which was donated by Eagle County School District.