BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) – Despite the challenges of a pandemic that has impacted everyone’s lives, Habitat for Humanity Buffalo dedicated a new home on Saturday morning.
Yasmin and Robert Santiago, who have been in the local program since 2018, spent more than 400 hours towards the construction of their home at 56 Lawrence Place on Buffalo’s West Side. The couple also have three children.
“Being in a house that I know my kids are safe in and that they can grow up in and hopefully I can pass it down to them and their kids, it means a lot to all of us,” Yasmin Santiago said. “I was introduced to Habitat because my mother-in-law has a habitat house just around the corner on 17th Street. I helped her when she was doing her Habitat hours and helped volunteer, building her house with her. Then, over the years, I just didn’t think I would be accepted into the program, but I gave it a shot.”
After Santiago was accepted into the program, she said the group “literally turned our lives around”.
“Every dedication is a little bit different,” Teresa Bianchi, Habitat Buffalo’s Executive Director, said. “We do them all over the world. Depending on the Habitat affiliate, they’re just a little bit different. This one, I must say, is the most different one we’ve done in Buffalo.”
The dedication was held via Zoom.
“A while ago before affordable housing was deemed an essential service, we were told to stop building,” Bianchi said. “Habitat staff said we’re going to go until we were told we can’t go. Recommendations are one thing but until we are told we can’t, we’re going to keep going. We have families right now that kids have asthma and are living in asbestos and mold situations.”
She said others are still living in deplorable conditions.
Habitat Buffalo construction sites are closed to volunteers and the community during the coronavirus pandemic.