The Dallas chapter of Habitat for Humanity has finished its first house using volunteers since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Last year, Habitat for Humanity stopped using volunteers and switched to contractors to adhere to stay-at-home and social distancing orders.
courtesy Alan Scaiacourtesy Alan Scaia
Volunteers were able to start working with the organization again in October and have finished their first home in the Joppa neighborhood of southern Dallas.
"We're excited to see what memories we'll make in our new home," says Wilbur Salmeron, who will be moving in with his wife and two kids. "We were here when it was just the concrete on the floor, and now it is actually a home."
Salmeron and his family worked on the construction with volunteers. Among the volunteers were about 160 from Park Place Dealerships in Dallas.
"It was cool, as I was driving up, to be able to see the home, not just a foundation. It's a home for the Salmeron family," says Park Place Dealerships' Anam Ali Hashambhai. "It's no longer a house; it's a home. It's beautiful. The Salmeron family is going to love being here making memories."
Mark Brown, Chief Operating Officer for Construction at Dallas Habitat, says the organization is still taking precautions. He says equipment is cleaned regularly, and Habitat limits the number of volunteers at each job site at a time.
"With fewer volunteers on the job-site, we're able to space them out and get a little more social distancing," he says. "We've brought in hand sanitizing stations and safety protocols for using equipment and cleaning the equipment."
Brown says the organization will be able to complete more homes this year by switching back to volunteers instead of using contractors. Last year, Dallas Habitat completed about two dozen homes. In 2021, Brown says Habitat will complete about 50 homes.
"Just on this street alone, we've got four brand new homeowners who, they have sweat-equity in the homes, they've bought the homes. They'll be living here, raising their families," he says.
Habitat for Humanity has completed about 100 homes in the Joppa neighborhood over the past seven years. In addition to building and renovating homes, Habitat for Humanity provides financial counseling and workshops for people who may not ultimately work with the organization to buy a home.
The organization says Habitat for Humanity homeowners have generated about $5 million in property tax revenue for Dallas County.
