[COLUMBUS, OHIO, JANUARY 5, 2019] Habitat for Humanity-MidOhio is starting the new year off in grand fashion with the dedication of new home in Linden on Saturday. While the home itself will be one of 15 new builds completed in fiscal 2019, the family receiving the keys to this home will be Habitat MidOhio’s 500thfamily served since the affiliate began operations in 1987. The affiliate also plans to complete an additional seven rehab projects and make repairs to 78 homes, totaling 100 families served before the end of June 2019.

In fiscal 2018, Habitat MidOhio served 58 families and 72 children through 13 new home construction, 3 rehabs, and 42 home repairs. The affiliate has served 1,613 individuals in new home construction since inception (including 988 children and 625 adults including six U.S. veterans).

The deserving partner family receiving the keys to their new home this weekend is a family of ten. Mom works in early childhood care and dad works in the transportation industry. Like all Habitat homeowners, the family will assume a 0% interest mortgage on a home that scores among the highest in energy efficiency in the region. This energy efficiency translates into utilities savings of almost 50% per year (compared to similar-sized homes on the street).

“Reaching our 500thfamily served is a point of immense pride for our entire organization,” noted E.J. Thomas, President & CEO of Habitat MidOhio. “Ours is a mission of empowerment,” continued Thomas, “our staff, volunteers, donors, partners, board and especially our partner families all relish & celebrate this exciting milestone. Helping to build the dream of homeownership in central Ohio has been a honor for our stakeholders and me, and is a true testament to the altruism and good will found in Columbus and central Ohio. We look forward to positively impacting the next 500 – within the next five years – and beyond!”