Interfaith Habitat house to be dedicated Friday

STRUTHERS

Mahoning County Habitat for Humanity will dedicate a new home Friday at 6:30 p.m. at 28 Wetmore Ave. The home, being built for Marina Crespo and her family, is also on display at an open house today from 3 to 7 p.m.

Tours and refreshments will be available at both events.

The home the product of a building project called “The House of Abraham” which is designed to demonstrate that religious, ethnic and racial differences are less important than the common humanity that unites people, said Monica Craven, director of Mahoning County Habitat for Humanity. The Crespo home was sponsored and built by area Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Baha’i faith communities, Craven said.

Crespo has completed many more than the 250 hours of required “sweat equity,” has met Habitat’s income and credit guidelines, and helped build several homes other than hers. She will buy this home from Habitat next month at the appraised value, with no profit to Habitat, with a zero percent interest loan and a mortgage calculated to be affordable.