Habitat for Humanity continues growth in Surf City

Angelique Flores

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Moe Khakbaz lives in a trailer with his wife and

three children.

After 11 years, the Tustin man will soon own his own home with the

help of Habitat for Humanity.

Both the Khakbaz and the Esparza families had help from almost 70

volunteers Saturday in putting up the walls to their new homes in

Huntington Beach.

“It was amazing all those people gave up their time, their family

time, to come in to help a stranger build a house,” Khakbaz said.

Habitat for Humanity relies on volunteers and donated materials to

build homes to sell to low-income families.

The families must apply to buy a home, as well as complete 600 hours

of volunteer work and take classes on home ownership before they can move

into the home.

“Even when you put in your 600 hours, it doesn’t mean it’s ended,”

Khakbaz said. “We need to be an example for the new people that qualify.”

Huntington Beach already has three Habitat homes in the city. Three

additional homes will be constructed at Florida and England streets. When

they’re complete, the area will have two four-bedroom homes and a

two-bedroom home to offer three families.

Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit group, put out a request for

volunteers to help with the construction of the home. That request was

filled within a week.

Teenagers from the American Jewish Society for Service already spent

two weeks earlier this month laying the foundation for the two homes.

Sponsors of the homes, Option One Mortgage Corp. and Edison Capital, have

also sent volunteers to Saturday’s “Framing Blitz”.

“Everyone had a great time,” said Ray Englart, vice president of

construction for Habitat for Humanity of Orange County.

No one can be happier than the two families who will be moving in.

“It’s going to be neat getting to know our neighbors,” Khakbaz said.

The Esparza family is also excited about moving into their new home.

The family of six now lives in a small home in Brea.

“The home is a back house in terrible disrepair with a vicious dog in

the front home,” said Kim Stafford, the Esparza’s family partner with

Habitat for Humanity.

Adolfo Esparza is especially excited about moving to Surf City. When

he first came to California, he saw the ocean off the Southern California

coast on Beach Boulevard.

“This is a Godly organization, and every week, they give up their time

because they love to give, and they never get tired of giving,” Khakbaz

said.

The two houses are expected to be complete by Dec. 1. Work on the

third home, a two-bedroom house near the other two, is expected to begin

within a month.