They named the new homes faith, hope and love and said these virtues would triumph over doubt, despair and hatred.
Once, not so long ago, violence plagued the 400 block of Washington Street in Aberdeen. The city condemned three dilapidated houses, since burned to the ground as practice for firefighters, and turned the land over to Habitat for Humanity.
On Sunday, Habitat workers, the new homeowners, clergy and city officials dedicated the single-story, wood-frame houses as a choir sang gospel songs and the sweet smell of barbecue filled the air.
“Once, I went around and saw a lot of beautiful homes, and I said I?d like a nice house on a hill,” said Pearlene Morris, who now lives in the “faith” house. “But it?s wherever God places you that matters, and there?s a reason he places you where he does.”
“We?re here to help him to enhance this neighborhood,” said her husband, Greg Morris, pastor of Eat the Word Ministries in Havre de Grace.
Alberto “Cookie” Barnes, the new owner of the “hope” house, said she connected with Habitat for Humanity when she was being kicked out of her Bel Air Avenue rental because of her son?s behavior.
Loeta Adkins, now Barnes? neighbor, told her about Habitat plans to build on the 400 block of Washington Street.
Jeanine Nkurunziza said it?s fitting her new home is called “love” because she got so much of it from her neighbors and Habitat volunteers.
The three new houses bring to five the number of Habitat properties on Washington Street, once so crime-ridden that the city installed its first police cameras there.
The address plate from one of the burned houses now hangs in City Hall, next to a list of police calls to that location.
Capt. Kenneth Cox of the Aberdeen police credits residents with the transformation.
“The difference,” he said, “is that they don?t want to accept crime on their street.”
