SAN ANTONIO \u2013 Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio and Guadalupe Valley marked its 50th anniversary by dedicating its first 15 homes of 2026 on the East Side.<\/p>\n
The organization aims to support families in achieving affordable homeownership with zero percent interest.<\/p>\n
\u201cHabitat\u2019s all about a hand up, not a hand out,\u201d Chief Development Officer Stephanie Wiese said. \u201cOur families work hard through this process.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey apply, they do 300 hours of sweat equity. They build on their homes, build on their neighbors\u2019 homes,\u201d Wiese said. \u201cSo this is the culmination of the end of a nine-month journey for a lot of these families.\u201d<\/p>\n
Habitat is on track to build 52 homes this year across Bexar and Guadalupe counties. <\/p>\n
Homebuyer Vanessa Juarez said she was initially denied when she didn\u2019t meet income requirements, then reapplied after finishing pharmacy school and getting a job. She is now set to move into her new home in May.<\/p>\n
“I\u2019m overwhelmed with emotions,” Juarez said. \u201cI can\u2019t believe it. I\u2019m still in shock.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just grateful,\u201d Juarez continued. \u201cI can\u2019t even thank everybody here enough for everything that they put into helping me get where I am today.\u201d<\/p>\n
Over 300 volunteers helped landscape the new yards for the homes on Saturday morning. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt takes a village,\u201d Wiese said. \u201cWe always have a great community. We have faith organizations, lots of churches, businesses; Valero\u2019s out here today; Bill Miller\u2019s Barbecue is funding the 1500th home, so a little bit of everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n