Habitat for Humanity Holds Building Blitz in Milwaukee's Washington Park Neighborhood

More than 150 volunteers joined in the Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity "building blitz" in the Washington Park neighborhood Monday.

The future homeowners worked alongside those volunteers to completely frame three homes on the 2200 block of North 38th street.

The three homes will be built right next door to each other, on a block which already is home to eight Milwaukee Habitat families.

One of the future homeowners who helped is Tiana Gatlin who can't wait to give her eight year old son the room he needs to grow and play.

Room they haven't enjoyed in the tiny apartments she's been renting to get by.

The new home will mean she can get him that dog he's always wanted.

But joining the neighborhood also carries significant meaning.

"Home ownership is very important to me," Gatlin told CBS 58 News. "I also am very interested in setting down roots in a neighborhood and having good neighbors and a strong community. I think that habitat will be able to provide that."

Not only will the home mean stability and independence for her family, but Habitat's affordable mortgage will cost less than what Tiana is currently paying in rent. Tiana plans to put the money she saves into a college fund for her son.

Joining Tiana on the build site will be volunteers from Milwaukee-based Joy Global, who are sponsoring two of the three homes that are being built next week.

These homes will be the 16th and 17th homes Joy Global has built in partnership with Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity.

Since 2011 the company, with the support of employees and suppliers, has contributed over $1.15 million and its employees have logged over 6,000 volunteer hours with Milwaukee Habitat, helping build safe affordable homes in partnership with local families.

Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope by creating affordable home ownership opportunities to low-income families. Over the past 32 years, Milwaukee Habitat has served over 1,000 families in the Greater Milwaukee community through new construction, rehab and repair programs and provided housing solutions for over 1,500 families in developing countries.

Milwaukee Habitat's five-year neighborhood revitalization strategy, now in its fourth year, is reinvigorating the Washington Park neighborhood on the near west side of Milwaukee. Anchored by the conviction that housing provides a critical foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty and strengthening neighborhoods, Milwaukee Habitat is committed to helping more families achieve stability and independence.

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