The De Souza family of Leominster, MA has been chosen as the recipients or "partner family" for the Acton Habitat project. They will actively participate in the construction of the home and will purchase it from Habitat for Humanity when it is completed.

Marcos De Souza is a youth minister while wife Silvia stays home to care for their three children: Rebeca, 17, Miri, 14, and Isaac, 12. The home will be built to be wheelchair accessible to accommodate the needs of eldest daughter Rebeca. The application process required the family to attend several meetings, submit references and a statement about why the de Souzas should receive a Habitat house. A selection committee also interviewed them before making a final decision. While Habitat homes are built largely using donations, the De Souzas will still have to pay for house, which on average costs around $110,000.

Marcos and Silvia DeSouza

In addition, they must put in 500 hours of sweat equity into the building project. The hours can be filled by friends and family over 16 years old.

See the recent news story focused on the DeSouzas and the recent groundbreaking ceremony:

• Habitat Family Breaks Ground,   The Beacon, May 24, 2007