As Andrea Crumpley walked around her soon-to-be home, built by scores of volunteers, she could think of one word to describe how she felt:

        “Blessed.”

        The 28-year-old single mother and her two sons made up one of three families celebrating the Sunday dedication of their Habitat for Humanity homes on Bogart Avenue in Avondale.

        Habitat for Humanity is a private nonprofit group committed to building new homes and rehabilitating existing ones to sell to families in need.

        More than 250 volunteers helped in construction and raising the $159,000 for materials for the three homes. They were built with the help of corporate sponsors and The Eastside Coalition, a group of seven churches. Local suppliers provided some of the building materials.

        “I'm so excited,” Ms. Crumpley said. “We'll be in our own home for Christmas.”

        Ms. Crumpley's sons were excited, too. Twelve-year-old KeAndrae Leatherwood had chosen his room even before the dedication — one with a big closet and a built-in shelf.

        “For my boxing trophies,” he said with a grin.

        He liked the yard, too.

        “We can play football in

        the snow and have snowball fights there,” he said.

        The other families taking symbolic ownership of their new two-story, four-bedroom homes were Patricia Witherspoon and her five children, and Valerie Washington, her six children and one grandchild.

        The families were obligated to pitch in, working at least 500 hours each during the construction.

        Mortgage payments are reasonable for low-income families. New homeowners pay off the homes over 20 to 30 years through no-interest loans, averaging about $300 a month including taxes and insurance.

        Loveland resident and Habitat for Humanity volunteer George Bartl, 72, came to the celebration Sunday to watch the families walk into their new homes.

        “This is a chance to pay back to the community,” Mr. Bartl said. “I've had a good life. It's nice to help someone less fortunate.”

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