Habitat For Humanity Helps Long Island Family Achieve Their Dream

NORTH BELLPORT, NY (WCBS 880) - There is a party going on at a one-story home on Walker Avenue in North Bellport.

WCBS 880's Sophia Hall On Long Island

Antonia Acevedo and her 16-year-old daughter Jenna are celebrating their brand new home thanks to the help of Habitat for Humanity.

"I don't have words to say how excited we are. This is our dream come true," Acevedo said on Friday.

They had tears of joy in their eyes as they talked about their plans for the home and how hard it has been renting their whole lives.

"It feels different to be able to walk here and know that this is going to be our house," said Jenna, who plans to paint her room red, white, and black.

"I've been renting forever. Constantly moving, which is hard when you have a kid because you want to give them stability," said 42-year-old Antonia, who works for a home care company.

Habitat for Humanity's Kathy Schaffer said the process of seleceting a family for a new home is not something that is done lightly or quickly.

"We do have a lengthy application that they must complete," Schaffer said. "They must fit between certain income guidelines." 

At the time Acevedo was selected, the income guidelines were between $40,000 to $60,000 annual gross income.

"They are all hard working families that just cannot get what they need as far as a down payment. In this age and this time, unfortunately, it's very difficult, even if you have excellent credit, to be able to get a mortgage," Schaffer said.

Suffolk County has been turning abandoned parcels of land in Brookhaven, Farmingville, Shirley, Bellport and Medford into affordable housing.