In a home dedication ceremony filled with holiday cheer, goodwill and gratitude, on Saturday, December 13, the Casillas family received the mortgage papers to their new 3-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom town home in Cypress. The home, built by Habitat for Humanity Orange County volunteers, businesses and the new homeowners themselves, is a symbol of the good that a community can do when it works together for a common purpose.

Ms. Casillas and her two young sons lived for years in a one-bedroom apartment while saving money for the down payment on a home in a safe neighborhood that was near the family’s relatives, work and school. But as everyone knows, Orange County real estate comes with some of the highest price tags in the country, and her dream would have probably never been realized were it not for Habitat for Humanity.

Antis is a proud supporter of this project, donating the roof installation in collaboration with Eagle Roofing Products who supplied the roof tiles. The home is one of five constructed by volunteers over the last several months, with ten more like it currently under construction.

As longtime Habitat for Humanity affiliates, we at Antis have always believed in the power and purpose of Habitat for Humanity. Time and again, we’ve seen hard working families get the hand up they needed to create the stability and safety for their children that many of us take for granted. We’re grateful for the opportunity to work with Habitat because it’s an organization that is designed to make a lasting and transformative impact in the lives of the people it serves.

Habitat for Humanity homeowners are required to invest 500 hours of sweat equity into their future home’s construction. They also must provide a down payment of 1-3% of the home’s value, in addition to closing costs. Their mortgage papers are then held by the non-profit organization that retains rights of first purchase. The money earned from the sale of the home, goes back into the “Fund for Humanity” which is used to build new homes and repurchase previously sold homes. To us, this system—for both the volunteers and recipients—creates a cycle of giving that helps families and communities achieve stability while developing a sense of personal empowerment and altruism.

We love working with Habitat for Humanity and we’re certain that you will, too! To learn more about the organization and giving opportunities, visit www.habitatoc.org.

Want to know more about the Casillas home build, click here to watch the video.