A home for the holidays

Tannishia Garcia stood in the living room of her new home, six days before Christmas, and gave thanks.

The race to complete her home before the end of the year was complete, thanks to her hard work and the support of countless people. She and her family, including three daughters and a grandbaby on the way, spent the holiday in the home, built in partnership with Habitat for Humanity.

“My heart is overwhelmed and filled with so much joy,” she said while surrounded by family and friends and volunteers. “Every one of you has been a blessing to me.”

Tannishia’s home, in the 900 block of Tremont Street in Davenport, is the 94th house Habitat has built in the Quad Cities. St. Paul was one of the sponsors of the home, along with Thrivent Builds, Scott County Housing Council, and Wells Fargo, offering financial and volunteer support. Member Phil Simms was one of two construction leaders on the project.

Habitat is a nonprofit Christian housing organization dedicating to eliminating poverty housing by building simple, decent, affordable homes. Partner families purchase the houses with a no-interest mortgage and invest sweat equity hours in their own home, the homes of others, as well as with the organization’s operation. Four hundred people call Habitat houses home in the Quad Cities.

“Tannishia is hard-working, kind, caring, and compassionate,” said Kristi Crafton, executive director of Habitat. “She is centered. She knows what is important in life – family, friends, and faith. We love being around her because it’s contagious.”

Habitat is looking forward to building its 100th home in the Quad Cities in 2016, Kristi said. Four houses are underway – No. 92 is next door to the Garcias, and will be owned by Avita Hicks and her family. No. 93 at 1218 Perry St., Davenport, will be home for Kossi Fagla and Amessouwoe Agbenonsi. At 335 4th Ave., Moline, house No. 95 is going up, in partnership with Wilson Vincent and Kabura Furaha. And Qiana Wells will call 905 11th Ave., Rock Island home. That is house No. 96.

“Habitat is about love,” Kristi said. “That’s why we’re all here.”

To learn more, visit habitatqc.org.