FINDLAY, OH (WLIO) - The lives of one Findlay family have changed forever, as they now have a permanent place to call home.
Talisha Balicki and her two daughters were joined by Findlay community members as they received their keys and got to show off their brand new house. The 3-bedroom, 1-bathroom house was constructed in just 10 weeks by Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County and was the first home to be built this year. Once Talisha opened the front door, we went inside to talk with her about what it feels like to now have their own home to establish their roots.
"I'm very excited to put the roots down... so many things happen at home. You always crave that one place that you could just go and you feel yourself and you're comfortable, and I hope to create that for my kids. They can always come home to mom if they need to, so the kids are very excited. They have their own room; you know, you could do your own thing in the house, decorate, and I don't have to leave in a year," says Talisha Balicki, the new homeowner.
With Habitat for Humanity helping to provide a forever home for the Balicki family, they continue to strive to fulfill those families' dreams of having a stable home.
"First, it comes with a dream and a prayer because we know that more families need stable homes in our community. There is an affordable housing shortage, and it's just becoming too expensive for families to pay the rent, buy the groceries, and get everything that they need... so, we ask the community for financial support. They help raise all the funds to purchase all of the materials, and then we invite many corporate teams and organizations. Over 300 volunteers to come together over a 10-week period of time to build this 3-bedroom, 1-bath, 1100-square-foot home," says Wendy McCormick, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County.
Habitat for Humanity in Hancock County will dedicate their next house on Tuesday, June 18th.
