Habitat for Humanity breaks ground for two more houses in Port Townsend

PORT TOWNSEND — Habitat for Humanity broke ground for two homes Saturday, a landmark event for two prospective homeowners whose prayers were answered.

“We’ve been praying that we would be able to live in Port Townsend near our family,” Sol Sebastian said.

“It’s God that has led us.”

Sol and Heather Sebastian and their two children, Solomon, 3, and Sophia, 11 months, are one of two young families who are starting to build Habitat homes on 20th and Sheridan streets.

The others are Andrew and Marie Chivers, who have two daughters, Sheridan, 4, and Alexis, 16 months.

Andrew, who commutes from Quilcene to Port Townsend to work at Jefferson Healthcare hospital, has five words for what having their own home will mean to the family:

“It means the whole world,” Chivers aid.

“It’s the greatest gift you could ever get for your family.”

At Saturday’s groundbreaking, District Court Judge Mark Huth, president of the East Jefferson County Habitat for Humanity board, said that with the price of homes continuing to rise, it’s harder for first-time buyers to afford a home.

“Groundbreaking is always a time of celebration, and we’ve been doing this in the spring,” Huth said.

“We’ll grow these houses over the season and enjoy the harvest.”

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