The Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity has begun construction on a new, single family home at 2070 Dowd Avenue in the historic Birdtown neighborhood. There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 10:00 AM as construction begins on the first floor walls of this new home. This is only the second time that Habitat for Humanity has built a home outside of the City of Cleveland.
The newly constructed home will sit on the site of the former Lakewood Day Nursery which was demolished by the City of Lakewood in 2010 after sitting vacant for many years. The City recently transferred the lot to Habitat for Humanity and is funding the project through its HOME Investment Partnership Program. The home has been designed to be historically sympathetic to the Birdtown Neighborhood and will be energy efficient and accessible. The majority of construction on the home will be completed by volunteers. A partner family has been selected by Habitat and will assume ownership of the property when the project is complete.
“We are happy to be partnering with Habitat for Humanity to build a new home in Lakewood,” stated Mayor Mike Summers. “This is another example of our Housing Initiative at work. A property that was beyond repair and an eyesore to the neighborhood is being replaced by a beautiful, new home.”
Additional partners include Moen, Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) of Cleveland and First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Lakewood. Moen is supplying the majority of the volunteer workers needed to complete this project. First Federal of Lakewood is providing construction financing and NHS is offering homeowner education and financial training to the partner family.
Founded in 1976, Habitat for Humanity started in Americus, Georgia with a mission to eliminate poverty housing across the globe. Today, Habitat is one of the largest home builders in the world, operating in over 100 countries. Cleveland Habitat has completed over 160 homes since 1988. Today, The Cleveland Habitat engages 2,000 volunteers, who provide over 70,000 hours of service per year.