TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KLIX) – Maria Eversole received an early Christmas present when she was officially welcomed to her new home by Habitat for Humanity.

Family and friends, as well as Habitat for Humanity staff and volunteers, visited the home Tuesday afternoon for the welcoming ceremony.

“We are so grateful,” Eversole said, explaining that for the past several years she’s lived at her mother’s home in Twin Falls. Though she is tremendously grateful for her parents’ support, Eversole said she is excited to have a place to once again call her own.

“My dad would be so proud,” she said, noting with tears in her eyes that her father passed away about four years ago.

She plans to keep busy this weekend when family and friends help move her into the home, located in western Twin Falls city where several other Habitat for Humanity homes exist.

Eversole and her two children can live in the home for as long they’d like, but if they decide to move the organization has the first rights of refusal. Executive Director Linda Fleming said the organization recycles homes for continued use by partner families.

A red ribbon is cut Tuesday afternoon as the Twin Falls Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed Eversole to her new home. (Photo by Andrew Weeks)
A red ribbon is cut Tuesday afternoon as the Twin Falls Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed Eversole to her new home. (Photo by Andrew Weeks)
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Since 1991, Habitat for Humanity has helped 80 adults and 155 children into homes, Fleming said. She said it takes about six months to build a new home, but the organization has overseen the construction of new homes that have been built as quickly as five days.

After the welcoming ceremony at the home Tuesday, the house was blessed by Fr. Michael St. Marie of St. Edwards Catholic Church, where Eversole attends services, and the Twin Falls Area Chamber of Commerce conducted a ribbon cutting.

As people left the house, many of them extended their warm wishes to the new homeowner.

With so many people who’ve helped and encouraged her over the years, Eversole said, “we’ve never really been alone.”

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