With the help of Habitat for Humanity, Wendie Meeks and her two daughters, Evra and Willow, are ready to call Warren County’s 32nd Habitat house home sweet home. 

Located on Mt. Leo Heights, this is the fifth Habitat house completed in this neighborhood.

“Because of Habitat we are able to have a home that I would not any other way be able to provide for myself and my girls,” said Meeks, during a dedication ceremony on Saturday. “The most exciting part is being able to call it ours because we’ve rented for the last six years.” 

As for her daughters, they were eager to share their favorite rooms of the home.

“I get my own bedroom,” said Evra with a huge grin. “I’m going to decorate it with unicorns.”

Added Willow while pointing to her bedroom in the back, “Mine will be decorated like Paris, France.”

Habitat for Humanity homes are not free. The owners are required to pay for materials at cost. The labor is donated by a coalition of volunteer groups and businesses. Completed houses are sold and financed for over 20 to 30 years without interest.

Many from Meeks’ church community helped throughout the building process, including her pastor, Eddie Vance, who came for the dedication.

“Wendie has been through a lot of things and she’s done a marvelous job raising her daughters,” said Vance. “Something like this is more a labor of love to be able to help your fellow brother or sister get ahead in life.”

Meeks said it was hard work to get the home finished, but it’s been well worth it. Together, her and her daughters picked paint colors and helped build the structure. 

“Before we put the walls up, we put inspirational quotes and Bible verses in the subfloor and walls so that makes it a little more special so we know we are surrounded by love, God and His blessings,” said Meeks.

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that strives to better the lives of residents in Warren County by giving them a much-needed new home and the opportunities that come with it.