PARADISE — Standing in front of his new house in Paradise and speaking in front of dozens of volunteers and community members Friday morning Hugo Dolores Jr. told the public how happy he was that his parents would now have a home in which to grow old together.
Dolores’s family was greeted by a smiling crowd, many of whom helped build the house in some way, as Habitat for Humanity held a dedication ceremony on Greenwood Drive in Paradise. Later in the day, the family would move their belongings into the new home.
“We’re just excited to get all of our stuff in,” Dolores Jr. said. “My dad wants to barbecue; my mom wants to garden. This whole thing is finally here. My life has changed, and I’m so happy.”
Hugo Dolores Jr., his father Hugo Dolores, his mother Alejandra Morales and his sister Ana Dolores are moving from Chico.
Habitat for Humanity volunteers, business owners and community members start to gather around the newly built house in Paradise, California on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. (Jake Hutchison/Enterprise-Record)
“We’re just so grateful for Habitat for Humanity for providing us with this opportunity and for our future here,” Ana Dolores said.
The home on Greenwood Drive marks the 14th built in Paradise by Habitat for Humanity since the Camp Fire in 2018. In total, the organization has helped build 20 homes since the fire. Habitat works with families to get lower mortgage rates on a home that is built with help from the family as well as other volunteers. On a nearby road, three more homes were being built.
Because the homes are built with volunteer work from community members, many have unique stories that are somewhat imprinted on the buildings themselves. Mary Shippen, a homeowner and now board member for Habitat, is a special education teacher and each year invites her class to help with one of the build projects.
“This year they had the privilege of painting part of the house,” Shppen said.
Shippen took photos with the Dolores/Morales family at the south wall of the home, which was painted by her students.
“It meant the world to them,” Shippen said. “They have pictures in our room that they roll by and talk to everybody about about how they did this in the house over there. One time they actually got to raise a wall.”
Habitat’s Executive Director Nicole Bateman explained why the dedication ceremony is important once a project is completed.
“It’s so important because we really need to celebrate the accomplishments and the progress that we’re making in Butte County and up here in Paradise,” Bateman said. “And to celebrate the family. This is a big event for them that they can actually move in today and are going to have stable and affordable housing.”
Many volunteers joined the celebration as well as Justin Couchot, owner of the Ace Hardware in Paradise, who helped provide tools and materials for the project.
Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Nicole Bateman speaks during a dedication ceremony for a new house in Paradise, California on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. (Jake Hutchison/Enterprise-Record)
Paradise Mayor Ron Lassonde and Councilor Steve Crowder were in attendance as well. Lassonde noted that the town’s population has already hit 11,000.
“We’re way ahead of what we predicted but not what we thought we’d see,” Lassonde said. “You know, when you see a television show, you can see it all solved in an hour right? Well it takes a lot longer in real life. But this is outstanding. The ability to provide a home for a family to come here and be part of the community and have friends, neighbors and even strangers participate in building this home, it’s like an old-fashioned barn raising. This is what our town’s all about.”
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