Habitat for Humanity Unveils Milestone with 500th Home Built in Tucson

(Karen Schaffner/Staff)

The house that Frances Quintero, volunteers, builders and Habitat for Humanity built.

Habitat for Humanity is celebrating a significant milestone. The nonprofit recently completed its 500th home in Tucson. The milestone was marked by the completion of the Valor Vista development, located in midtown near Speedway and Rosemont. Seven families took possession of their new homes last Friday.

The development was made possible by principal and CEO Chris Kemmerly of Miramonte Homes, who donated the land. Habitat for Humanity Tucson staff, volunteers, and homeowners constructed the properties.

For Frances Quintero and her three teenage children, it was a moment filled with emotion as they finally moved in.

“I believe it’s everybody’s dream to own your own home,” she said. “It took a while, but thankfully we found this program that is very helpful.”

Despite the 90-degree heat, the crowd of 300 attendees at last Friday’s celebration was filled with excitement. Attendees shared their hopes for the new homeowners.

“Air conditioning,” someone in the crowd shouted.

“Peace,” another said.

“Movie nights,” another added.

The journey was arduous. Recipients had to put in at least 300 hours of work on the house, which Habitat staff refer to as a second job. Frances Quintero’s son Lennox contributed to the hours despite being ill part of the time. He helped with walls, studs, caulking, insulation, and hammering.

New homeowners worked on each other’s houses. All seven homes are nearly identical except for the porches and colors, which each family got to pick.

(Karen Schaffner/Staff)

Frances Quintero holds the keys to her dream home, a home she helped build.

The project was a bonding experience for families and volunteers.

“You worked beside all these people for weeks and months because you start your hours at the end of July, beginning of August, and we have until Feb. 1 to complete our hours,” Quintero said. “We became friends, and now we are neighbors.”

Each homeowner was assigned a family partner volunteer, like Lynette Lutz for Quintero. Lutz’s task was to keep the family on track, ensuring good financial health.

“One thing we needed to do was review the finances each month to make sure that they remained in qualification and maintained their eligibility,” Lutz said. “The whole premise is to improve good financial health.”

Lutz added that the mortgage costs these homeowners 30% of their income, a significant but manageable expense due to their hard work.

As the ceremony concluded, the Quintero family stepped over the threshold of their brand-new home. Frances’ sons and her daughter, Leilany, began inspecting their new spaces, brimming with excitement.

(Karen Schaffner/Staff)

Habitat for Humanity celebrates the 500th home the Tucson branch of the organization has built. With them are the families and all who built the seven homes that make up the Valor Vista community.

“I feel like they’re very excited,” Quintero said. “They are just ready to move into their own place.”

Both Frances Quintero and her mother, Norma, acknowledged that this opportunity was only possible thanks to Habitat for Humanity Tucson.

“I just feel so grateful, and I want to thank all the people who helped her and all the volunteers who made it possible for her to have her own house,” Norma Quintero said.

“If you are wanting to own your own home, definitely reach out to Habitat, or if you want to give back to our community, we have volunteers that come in and just work on the houses,” Quintero said. “I’m just beyond grateful to those people who came out here on their own, just volunteering.”

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