Brownsville woman presented with house
BROWNSVILLE – Through teary eyes, Tia Lewis helped put the dirt around the newly planted Autumn Blaze Maple tree in the front yard of her new home. For Lewis, a divorced mother of three young boys, the dream of owning her home has finally become a reality, but not without the help of Fayette County Habitat for Humanity. “It’s just a dream come true,” Lewis said.
The planting of the tree, which was donated by the Great Meadows Garden Club, was part of the dedication ceremony Saturday at Lewis’ house on 340 High St. Hers is the first Habitat for Humanity house in Fayette County since the county chapter was formed in 2000.
Lewis said she first learned of Fayette County Habitat for Humanity when she saw a flyer, requesting applicants for a new house, hanging in the Call Tech Communications office, where she works, in Brownsville. She said she has never owned her own home and always had to rent, so when she read the flyer, she responded.
After paperwork and interviews, Lewis and her family were chosen out of 87 applicants to receive the house. “When I found out we were chosen, I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I cried, of course.”
Lewis grew up in Brownsville and graduated from Brownsville Area High School in 1984. She then later married and lived in California and Washington states before divorcing and moving back to Brownsville. She has three sons: Frank, 15; Jason, 12; and Justin, 9.
Lewis and her sons will move into their new home after the bank closing next week. She will still have a mortgage payment, but it will be interest free. “Habitat affords people the opportunity to buy a home that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to,” she said.
The 960-square-foot house is gray with dark blue shutters. The home includes a kitchen/dining room combination with wood lament flooring, carpeted living room, three bedrooms and an unfinished basement. Lewis chose her own floor coverings, siding and shutters for the house.
Lewis said the home could not have become a reality without the help and contributions of many people, including the 300-plus hours of time she and her sons put into building it.
“We’ve been working for almost a year on the house,” Lewis said. “It’s been a blessing. We’re very excited and grateful to all of those who contributed.”
The director of the Fayette County Habitat for Humanity, Lee Sterling, said the group plans to build another home in Uniontown. Habitat receives no money from the government, and the homes are built entirely from contributions.
Those interested in volunteering with Habitat for Humanity can call 724-437-1547.