Lancaster-Lebanon Habitat for Humanity welcomed Kenya McGrier to her new home in Lancaster’s SoWe neighborhood with a dedication ceremony on Saturday.
McGrier, a certified medical assistant and mother of three, qualified for the house in the 500 block of St. Joseph Street through Habitat’s first-time homebuyer program. Participants must take homebuyer classes and contribute several hundred hours of “sweat equity.”
She formally received her house keys Saturday morning at a welcome and open house attended by volunteers, donors, community partners, family and neighbors.
Habitat acquired the then-blighted property in August 2022 through the city redevelopment authority, paying $25,000. The renovation began this past December and cost about $220,000, Habitat spokeswoman Amy Balestier said.
Funding came from various sources, including PNC Charitable Trust, The Donald B. and Dorothy L. Stabler Foundation, St. James Episcopal Church, Rotary Club of Lancaster. The renovation is part of Habitat’s Open Doors campaign, which aims to build or renovate 30 houses by the end of 2026.
Habitat sells its first-time homebuyer homes at their appraised market value, providing homeowners a 0% mortgage with payments set at affordable levels based on their income.
