Habitat for Humanity of Palm Beach County is celebrating 30 years of helping deserving local people become homeowners.
In the past 30 years, the chapter has built 205 new homes. Now, it's focusing especially on one area of West Palm Beach.
Friday, Habitat for Humanity dedicated its tenth home in Coleman Park, a historic neighborhood in the northern part of West Palm Beach.
Many of the homes in Coleman Park have fallen into disrepair in recent years. To change that, the city has been donating empty lots on which Habitat for Humanity can build. The non-profit also repairs current homes in the neighborhood.
"Some of them need new roofs, some of them need electrical work done, some, significant work in order for their home to be safe," said Bernard Godek, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Palm Beach County. "So we've been helping those families too."
"It's changing a street that might have boarded up houses that are rehabbed by Habitat, or vacant lots that are built on," said West Palm Beach city commissioner Sylvia Moffett.
In addition to the ten new homes already built in Coleman Park, the group has many more in the area on its construction schedule.
"It lowers crime because you have more people," Moffett said. "More eyes on the street, more people invested."
"There's a lot more spirit going on, a lot more pride in ownership and living in this community," Godek said. "It's just exciting to see the change."
