Habitat for Humanity helps 2 immigrant families build, buy their homes

Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware Counties
Photo credit John McDevitt/KYW Newsradio
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — After 13 months of hard work, members of Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware Counties welcomed Hani and Hayam Samaan and their sons, 4 year-old Matthew and 5-year-old Karas, into their new three-bedroom Bridgeport twin home.

The Samaans were one of two families who are rebuilding their lives in Bridgeport, thanks in part to Habitat MontDelco and hundreds of volunteers. 

"The dream become true," said Hani Samaan, whose family is originally from Egypt. Bridgeport, a community between Norristown and King of Prussia made up of a large immigrant workforce, has grown more over the past decade.

.@HfhMontDelco members welcome the Samaan family to their new Bridgeport home. Community comes together to help the immigrant family achieve their dreams . @KYWNewsradio pic.twitter.com/1YIzvjG560

— John McDevitt (@JM1060) July 25, 2019

The program requires the homeowners to participate in the project.

"I'm supposed to do 400 hours," he added. "Me and my wife, we crossed 600 hours. And I promised them after even my project is done, I will help three days a week" with other Habitat MontDelco rebuilding plans.

Marianne Lynch, CEO of Habitat MontDelco, said the community came out in force to help the two families.

"I watched it happen over and over again: People who may have political differences or are ideologically different, they come together over the power of swinging a hammer," she said. "Really when they think about what it is to help their fellow man, those differences seem to be set aside."

The two families, who happen to be neighbors, now purchased their homes from Habitat MontDelco with affordable monthly payments.

Habitat MontDelco has 25 additional properties in the queue. But before rehab work can get started, funds need to be raised.

"The more quickly I can fundraise for those, the more quickly I can get people in need of affordable housing the homes that they need," Lynch added.