8 Families Earn ‘Habitat’ Homes in Pacoima

The San Fernando/Santa Clarita Valleys’ Habitat for Humanity gave eight area families a home Saturday, at the formal dedication of a condominium building that each of its new residents helped build.

The eight families have all lived in the San Fernando Valley for more than two years, a Habitat requirement to demonstrate stability; each also had to give 500 or more hours of “sweat equity” to the building, called the Don Adams Villas.

Habitat is a Christian group that builds homes with donated funds and volunteer labor; the idea is to provide housing for low-income people without giving handouts.

Volunteers with the program, which was founded by former President Jimmy Carter, have built more than 25,000 homes since Habitat began 18 years ago.

Homes are constructed for about $50,000 each with as much donated land and materials as the group can find. They are sold at no profit to the people chosen to help build them, and the new residents are given loans with no interest.

Last month, Habitat’s San Gabriel Valley chapter began construction on its first Glendale project. Working with the city’s Housing Authority, the group will build four units at 531 Allen St.

Each 1,100-square-foot townhouse will have three bedrooms and will be sold for $50,000 to $75,000.