A hand up

Wendy Albanil, 24, pounds nails into a house in the Habitat North Subdivision on the morning of Aug. 16. Among the requirements to obtain a Habitat home is putting in 500 hours of �sweat-equity,� working on houses in the community. At the end of this month, Albanil, her two daughters and her grandmother will complete the long process and move into their new three-bedroom home.

RIZA FALK/rfalk@greeleytribune.com

The clean clothes are piled on Wendy Albanil's bed -- two double mattresses pushed together in the corner room of her parent's home. She didn't have time that morning to fold them as she sped out the door to her job at Swift & Co.

The last few months have been busier than usual: working full time, raising two young daughters and building a new home. Albanil works six days a week, and had to take vacation time to contribute her 500 hours of "sweat-equity" to her Habitat for Humanity home.

At the end of this month, Albanil, 24, and her two daughters, Leslie, 2, and Myriah, 1, will move into a three-bedroom home of their own in the Habitat North subdivision in Greeley. The project is the first house sponsored by Thrivent Builds, a partnership of Lutheran churches.

The north subdivision is full of green lawns and white picket fences, each representing the story of someone working to step up in the world. "I look out here and I see a tapestry of life and diversity, and life stories and courage," said executive director Linda Akers.

Since 2004, Habitat has built 27 homes there. There's room in the subdivision for 60, but the local Habitat group has had a difficult time finding qualified homeowners, because many applicants have credit problems, which the organizations do try to help rectify.

Akers said it's ironic that they don't have enough applicants, since the need in the community is increasing. "More and more our families in this community are not able to afford homes," she said. "We need people to come in and fill out applications."

Albanil didn't think she'd qualify for a home, but her mother urged her to apply. The house her parents own in is also Habitat-built. But once she'd gone through the paperwork, Albanil became excited.

* * *

On a hot, sunny morning in August, Albanil climbed a ladder, hoisting up siding to Ricky Orozco who stood on the roof. Albanil's home is already practically finished, but she's helping with a home for the Orozco family. Part of the Habitat goal is to build a neighborhood and community, so homeowners get to know each other while they work.

Albanil always thought when she started working that she would be rich, but even toiling six days a week at the meatpacking plant hasn't afforded her a comfortable lifestyle. She hopes her new home will give her the space and peace to pursue a better life.

Coming from Mexico with her parents when she was 15 years old, Albanil had a difficult time in high school. She was shy and didn't speak English well. Still she managed to get within six credits of graduation.

Once she moves, Albanil wants to pursue a a degree in fashion design or computer technology. Her grandmother, Rosella Esparza will live in the third bedroom and watch her children, so she can work toward her dreams.

Esparza is proud of her granddaughter's hard work. Habitat homes aren't hand outs, and Albanil has put a lot of time into making her home just right. She even painstakingly chose the colors and decorations for her daughters' room.

"You've got to learn the hard way or you won't get anywhere in life," Esparza said.

A Habitat Hand Up

To qualify for a Habitat home, an applicant must demonstrate:

» Need for housing: current conditions unsafe, unaffordable, or overcrowded.

» Repay a 0 percent interest loan.

» Earn 65 percent of the Weld Median Income.

» Invest a minimum of 500 hours of "sweat equity."

» Commit to completing educational workshops.

» Be a citizen or legal permanent resident of Weld County.

For more information on how to volunteer or apply, call (970) 351-6766.

High prices

The average home sale price in 2006 in Greeley/Weld County was $207,605. In 2007 that's projected to rise to $210,280.

Weld County's Median household income is $52,543

Source: The Group Inc. Real Estate, 2006 U.S. Census

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