Providence Journal photo/ Andrew Dickerman
Edwin and Eyvett Mercado look over the new kitchen in their house on Union Avenue in Providence.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- This weekend, at 531 Union Ave., in the Silver Lake section of the city, Habitat for Humanity of Rhode Island/Greater Providence, opened its 76th house. And Eyvett and Edwin Mercado opened their first.
"People think we give away houses," said Connie Hanner, Habitat's executive director. "We don't. But we have something to do with houses."
Habitat forms a partnership with people. The organization buys property, builds houses and tries to carefully, and impersonally, pick buyers.
"The information is passed to our board blind," Hanner said. "There are no names included. There is no way anyone can be influenced (by anything other than the facts of the application)."
The income of the Mercado family of four was, as required, within 30 percent to 60 percent of the area's median for a family of four, between $22,700 and $37,800.
This house is the second of seven planned this year by Habitat's Greater Providence affiliates.
Its sale price is $145,000. The Mercados' 30-year mortgage is $402.77 a month, not including taxes and insurance. There is no interest payment. But they were also required to contribute 500 hours of "sweat equity" during construction.
For more, visit habitatprov.org.