Local Habitat for Humanity joins Beatitude House for 'a perfect fit'

Beatitude House helps women move toward stability.
Nine families who have gone through the Beatitude House program, including LaTanya Christian Williams, have moved on and into Habitat for Humanity of Mahoning County homes.
Another Beatitude House participant has a Habitat home in Warren.
Beatitude House literature notes that 95 percent of the women who complete the transitional housing program retain permanent housing.
Williams and her family have lived in the Habitat house for three years.
"I heard about the program. I was so excited," she said, to think that she could apply. She did and put in her "sweat equity" working on the house.
The cooperation between Beatitude House and Habitat for Humanity of Mahoning County is described as "a perfect fit" by Brian Burick, executive director of Habitat.
"We communicate regularly," he said of Sister Patricia McNicholas, Beatitude House executive director. A member of Ursuline Sisters serves on the Habitat board as does a graduate of Beatitude House.
Some requirements
Beatitude House helps women move from homelessness to stability. "We offer affordable housing for these families. Our missions complement one another," Burick said.
People who apply for a Habitat house must go through an application process and be approved by the family selection committee. "A minimum of 350 hours of sweat equity is required by working on a Habitat home and 150 of that must be on their home," Burick said.
The Habitat for Humanity organization prepares the families for the new responsibility of home ownership. They learn about home maintenance, repairs, budgeting and other factors.
Burick said when families are notified about being selected, the emotions may be joy, elation, disbelief and pride.