Community News

Volunteers, friends, family, and new neighbors gathered Saturday at 35 Harrison Avenue in Morrisville for the dedication of the newest Habitat for Humanity home -- the 102^nd Habitat home built in Bucks County. New homeowners Iryna her husband Petro immigrated to the U.S. several years ago, seeking refuge from the war-torn Ukraine. Through Habitat’s Homeownership Program, they’ve found a caring community where they can raise their one year-old son, Daniel, and achieve the dream of homeownership. 

The family moves to their new home in Morrisville from a one-bedroom apartment in Warminster. With the savings they will experience with their lower mortgage (compared with their high rent), Petro will attend school in order to regain the electrical engineering credentials he obtained in the Ukraine, which are not accepted in the United States. He has been working as a truck driver to make ends meet.

Since breaking ground, volunteers have contributed over 1,100 hours and over 100 businesses, organizations, faith groups and schools partnered together to build Iryna and Petro’s new home, including Holy Family University, Penn Color, Parx Casino, Bucks County Foundation, KeyBank, BB&T, Penn Community Bank and others.

“Our home ownership program is a hand up, not a hand out,” explains Florence Kawoczka, Executive Director, Habitat Bucks. ”Habitat families invest a minimum of 200 hours of sweat equity in their homes and pay taxes on the full value of the home.”

During the building process, Iryna and Petro’s Morrisville neighbors offered morning greetings, supplied water to the crew, and donated tools. Neighbors were also in attendance at the dedication ceremony to welcome the their new community members. Procter & Gamble donated welcome gifts and St. Peters Lutheran Church Quilters of Hilltown presented the family with personalized handmade quilts by Quilts for Kids. The Invocation and house blessing was offered by Deacon Robert Skawinski of St. Ignatius of Antioch Catholic Church in Yardley.

“Our new home is a palace and we are grateful for everyone who helped make our dream a reality,” said Iryna.

The nonprofit Habitat for Humanity’s mission is to provide affordable housing opportunities for low-incoming individuals and families to increase their independence and well-being through affordable home ownership.

About Habitat Bucks 

The mission of Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County (Habitat Bucks) is, “Building Communities, Empowering Families.” Habitat Bucks has an open-door policy: All who believe that everyone deserves a decent, affordable place to live are welcome to volunteer to lend a helping hand.

The Habitat Bucks Homeownership Program provides an opportunity for low-income families to build strength, stability and self-reliance by partnering with Habitat. Habitat homebuyers contribute a minimum of 200 hours of sweat equity during the construction of their homes. 

Since 1990, Habitat Bucks has built 101 affordable homes in Bucks County. Through their A Brush with Kindness home repair program, Habitat Bucks also makes repairs to the exterior of homes, including porch repair and installation of handicapped accessible ramps. Revenue from Habitat ReStores provides a source of sustainable funding for the construction and repair of homes.

For more information about Habitat Bucks, to make a donation or volunteer, please call 215.822.2812 or visit:  www.habitatbucks.org

Iryna (left), her husband Petro (right), and their one year-old son, Daniel (center) moved to their new Habitat home in Morrisville from a one-bedroom apartment in Warminster.