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FLORENCE – Saturday, September 8 at 9:00 AM will be a very special date for the Blanton family. It’s the groundbreaking for the family’s new home at 1863 South Pino Circle in Apache Junction.
As a result of a three-way partnership among Pinal County, City of Apache Junction and Habitat for Humanity, a single mother of two young children will have a new home. According to a biography provided by Habitat for Humanity, Kelly Blanton and her children Natalie and Benjamin currently share in a one-bedroom home with Kelly’s mother.
“The dream of owning a home seemed just out of reach for Kelly, who works at a city community center,” Pinal County Housing Director Adeline Allen said. “There were three vacant lots identified by Habitat for Humanity that could be built on. Habitat for Humanity will help construct and finance the home and Blanton will pay the mortgage after she moves in.”
“Habitat for Humanity, Pinal County and the Blanton family are investing federal funds to stabilize an unfinished community with a high foreclosure rate,” said Pinal County District 2 Supervisor Clark Smithson. “This is good for Apache Junction but, more importantly, this provides a wonderful opportunity for this young family to enjoy a safe place to live where the children can play outdoors.”
This is the first of three homes that Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona will build in Apache Junction. An important component of the non-profit’s business model is the concept of ‘sweat equity’ through which the family that will live in the home assists in its construction. For more information or to contribute labor or materials, go to the group’s website www.habitatcaz.org.
Pinal County has received $3,168,315 in federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP3) funds. These are funds made available through the U.S. Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Program’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program. The program provides targeted emergency assistance to state and local governments to acquire, redevelop or demolish foreclosed properties. This will meet the HUD objective of stabilizing neighborhoods damaged by foreclosure, vacancy or abandoned properties. Neighborhood Stabilization Program funding will be used for this project.
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