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Six new homeowners thanks to Habitat for Humanity's Mutual Self-Help program

Ribbon cutting on new home
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HELENA — Six new homes are move-in ready for East Helena residents in need after a dedication ceremony was held by Helena Area Habitat for Humanity.

The six homes are located on Glenfinnan Court in East Helena, and they are part of the Mutual Self-Help program, where participants work as a group to build their own homes.

Crowd at the ceremony

Over the last year, volunteers spent 5,000 hours, and the Mutual Self-Help home builders spent 2,600 hours working on the homes.

Nineteen children will be moving into the cul-de-sac, including the kids of Coral Storm.

She said, "It's ours. A new, fresh start. We can do whatever we want now."

"It's a little emotional, but it feels good. It feels really good to be at this point and to be home and to have a home," said Katie Lockett, another Mutual Self-Help homebuilder and mother.

New homeowners

The homes were possible through funding from the Office of Rural Development (RD) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The homeowners and their future neighbors participate in the building of their homes alongside volunteers, which helps lower costs. Once the homes have been completed and inspected, participants purchase the house with a low-interest and income-based mortgage.

The homes were also made possible through a generous grant from the Wall Family/Power Townsend Foundation, Valley Bank of Helena, and the Wells Fargo Foundation.

Some families started moving in right after the ceremony on Thursday, and the building began last week for six more Mutual Self-Help homes to be added to the cul-de-sac.

The Mutual Self-Help program's waitlist is over 300 people long.

Editor's Note: This article has been updated. The original version of this story said they were provided by funding from the Wall Family/Power Townsend Foundation, Valley Bank of Helena, and the Wells Fargo Foundation which is incorrect. Funding comes from the Office of Rural Development (RD) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).