Canisha Stewart is already planning her Easter meal — a barbecue in her backyard, and she and her daughters Taylor and Jakaila might dye some eggs in their new kitchen.
After several long months of building — and a few delays — the Stewart family is getting ready to move into their new Habitat for Humanity home on Dacus Street in Brewton.
“I’m ready,” Stewart said Thursday, giving a tour of the still somewhat unfinished house.
The house blessing is set for Saturday afternoon, the day before Easter.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Habitat director Alecia Glaize.
Architectural students from Auburn University designed the home, and their unique details are throughout the house — from the metal roof, echoed by steel railings on the front and back porches, to the windows lining the hallway to the bedrooms, letting in light from the backyard and giving a view of the outdoor living space.
“This build was the first time the design had ever been used,” Glaize said. “We had to take our time and make a few adjustments along the way. It was an interesting and daunting project but has turned out beautifully for this family.”
The house, which was built to green building specifications, also took a little longer than usual because of approvals required to be certified, Glaize said.
“This is a certified safe home and getting that certfication took some time,” Glaize said. “We had to make certain modifications to meet the requirements for certification as a safe home and a green home. But, all of that is taken care of now and the Stewart family is ready to move in.”
Glaize said the home built for the Stewart family is larger than a typical Habitat construction.
“The homes we typically build are two bedrooms and one bath,” Glaize said. “This house, since there are more females in the family, required an additional room and a little more bathroom space.”
The Stewart home, located on Dacus Street, is a three bedroom, one and one-half bath home, Glaize said.
Dedication ceremonies for the home will begin at 4 p.m. Saturday.
The program will include a time of prayer over the family and the home as well as the symbolic signing of the mortgage for the home.
The public is invited to attend the ceremony.
For information about Habitat for Humanity, visit their Website at www.escambiahfh.org.