Habitat for Humanity makes house a home for new owner in Magna

MAGNA — Teresa C. Dix is looking forward to baking cookies and hosting slumber parties with grandchildren in her new home obtained through Salt Lake Valley Habitat for Humanity.

The nonprofit organization provides affordable housing to working, low-income families to help them improve their lives, as well as strengthen communities.

On Friday, Habitat officials unveiled a 1,100-square-foot house in Magna. The house, with its beige siding and brown brick, has three bedrooms and one bathroom. It is valued at $170,000, which doesn't include the volunteer labor hours.

The Habitat for Humanity program requires the homeowner to put in 200 hours of work — the first 100 hours of which is generally on other Habitat homes being constructed.

"I saw it go from a stick frame to finish — and it's just beautiful," said Dix, 50, of South Jordan.

A single mother with grown children, Dix works at a bookstore. She is in the process of moving her belongings into her new Magna home.

"I am very blessed," she said. "I am indebted to everyone, this wonderful group of people."

Approximately 15 volunteers work four days a week year round on the Habitat homes. This house had about 1,200 volunteers over the past year, according to executive director Stephen Tagliaferri.

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