2 Dozen Families Celebrate New Habitat For Humanity Homes

DENVER (CBS4) - Two dozen families in Denver's Globeville neighborhood are celebrating their new homes after Habitat for Humanity volunteers built them.

The homes are a result of a week-long building blitz called the Carter Work Project founded by Former President Jimmy Carter.

Just a week ago the area was a very active construction site. Now it's simply a full-fledged neighborhood. There are 11 brand-new homes as well as 15 that have been repaired, all of which has been accomplished by the hands of volunteers.

A new home is going to be a big change from the one bedroom apartment Saba Asgedom has been sharing with her mother and two children.

"I would never, ever think I'm going to own a home, but my dream has come true," Asgedom said.

After five days of building with hammers and with heart, 2,000 volunteers have accomplished their mission. Each of the 11 homes has three to four bedrooms, two bathrooms and an unfinished basement.

Asgedom met Habitat for Humanity's criteria – a need for housing, the ability to pay a mortgage and a willingness to put in 200 hours of sweat equity herself.

"I even like cried the first time I came to see it. The drywall is all done, all the bedrooms, this is amazing," Asgedom said.

Now Asgedom's sons will each have their own bedrooms and mom will have the peace of mind she's wanted for so long.

"This is a big thing to me, changing my life. Now I don't have to worry where am I going to move to next. Now I'm not going to worry about that anymore," she said.

Volunteers worked until the very last minute to finish the homes.

If you'd like to volunteer to help Habitat for Humanity visit the Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver website.