Providing a home for a deserving family through Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga “is a most rewarding experience for our association,” said Kathy Tucker, president of the Chattanooga Association of Realtors, at the dedication of the first Realtor-built Habitat house.

Providing a home for a deserving family “is what it’s all about,” said Jack Riggar, resource development director for Habitat.

The new Habitat house in the Shepherd Park community is the new home of Carlos and Sylvia Betancourt and their two daughters, Gabriela and Damaris. He is minister to the Hispanic community at Brainerd Baptist Church.

The Realltors raised the funds and provided the volunteer labor to build the home and Ms. Tucker at the dedication told the Betancourt family, “As promised, you will be home for the holidays.”

Habitat, on the heels of the Realtor-built home dedication, announced a drive for construction of a Thanksgiving Habitat house.

Habitat recently received word that the Robert L. & Kathrina H. Maclellan Foundation will match new donations dollar for dollar up to $50,000. This is an opportunity for people in the community to come together to potentially touch the lives of two Chattanooga families in need, said Mr. Riggar. “Every gift counts - whether you can give $10,000 or $10, your gift will have double the impact right now!”

The Realtors at their July luncheon set out to raise $45,000 in 45 minutes to build a Habitat house. The real estate community raised from its membership some $112,000 for Habitat, more than twice the amount needed for the Habitat house.

The new home for the Betancourt family is the first Habitat house built by the Realtors, but the association is looking at the partnership with Habitat as an ongoing program and expects to build another house next year.

“The comforts of home should be made available to everyone,” said Ms. Tucker, and being part of the construction of a Habitat house “makes it possible for someone to realize the American Dream who otherwise might be unable to do so. What a great way to give back to our community.”

Adopting the Habitat partnership grew out of the work of the Realtors Cultural Diversity Committee and the Public Relations Committee which then resulted in formation of the Habitat House Task Force.

At the dedication of the new Habitat house, Dr. Darryl Craft, senior pastor of Brainerd Baptist, led the opening prayer and the Litany of Dedication affirming the home as “a place of love and respect between parent and children” and “a place for rest, shelter and a place for laughter.”

Minister Betancourt, who came here with his family from Quito, Ecuador, three years ago, led a prayer of thanksgiving for the house, praying in his native language because he said he would be better able to thank God in the Hispanic language for what had been provided. He is working on learning English.

James Sprayberry, Habitat construction manager, presented a Bible to the Betancourts.

Chattanooga Habitat, an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, is a non-profit ecumenical Christian ministry dedicated to eliminating poverty housing by creating homeownership opportunities for working, low-income families.

The local Habitat has built 166 homes here since its founding in 1986 with more under construction and has built 25 of the homes in the Shepherd Park neighborhood. The neighborhood eventually will have between 40 and 50 homes. Habitat plans to build at least 12 homes a year in the community.

Habitat, in partnership with local companies, organizations and churches, builds simple and affordable homes in partnership with those in need. Volunteers and future homeowners provide the labor in building the homes.

Realtors and friends gather in front of the new Habitat house built by Realtors for the Betancourt family for dedication ceremonies. Click on all our photos to enlarge.
- Photo2 by Irby Park