Roanoke family receives holiday blessing, keys to home

ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - On Friday, one Roanoke family received a holiday blessing; a home dedication ceremony took place for the Mercado family.

Sheila and Jose Mercado said previously they were living in their daughter's four-bedroom house with 11 others family members. The Mercado's applied for a home through Habitat For Humanity in the Roanoke Valley. This week, they received keys to a renovated home on Orange Avenue.

The Mercados said they are happy to have a permanent place to call home.

"We've been up and down and up and down and never had a home" said Sheila. "For us, this is the first time nobody can say we have to get out. Nobody can say there are too many people. We don't have to worry about being homeless, sleeping in a car, or sleeping on a hotel floor or being in a shelter. We have a home."

The organization has dedicated about 10 houses this year and worked with Roanoke City on renovations and other projects. Staff said 2016 has been a busy year for Habitat for Humanity in the Roanoke Valley.

"In addition to a very challenging construction schedule, we as many people know relocated our facility from downtown over to Melrose," said Jenny Lee, Habitat for Humanity in the Roanoke Valley. "It's hard to imagine the work that goes into moving offices and our construction setup."

On Saturday, the Habitat Re-store opened in its new location on 3435 Melrose Avenue.