ELKHART, Ind. -- Habitat for Humanity held a ribbon cutting today to celebrate Legacy Park, Elkhart County's newest housing development that will create 22 affordable homes for local families.

The land for Legacy Park was donated to Habitat in 2022, and with grant funding they are finally ready to break ground on these new homes in the hopes of expanding affordability and homeownership in Elkhart County.

Legacy Park is part of the Tri-County Workforce Homeownership Initiative, created to bring collaboration with community partners and Habitat for Humanity affiliates.

According to Greg Conrad, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Elkhart County, families will be moving into their completed homes by this time next year.

Each Habitat family goes through the same program; once they are accepted, they are required to do 250 hours of sweat equity for each adult. The last 50 hours are spent training on things like budgeting, maintaining and caring for a home, as well as financial planning. The other 200 hours are spent building houses for other families.

I spoke with one mother, Heather Clark, who started the Habitat program in January, and is now about to get her own home in Legacy Park. She says that reality hit today, knowing her three kids will grow up in a safe and affordable home.

"Before I joined Habitat, I was looking to purchase a home, and every home that I could afford was crap. The homes that I couldn't afford, they were nice, but do I live and struggle my whole life to be able to afford a nice home?" says Clark.

"I wake up every day and thank God for the opportunity, and I hope that my kids cherish it as well."