Iowa City families home for the holidays thanks to Habitat for Humanity

IOWA CITY - One Iowa City family is in a newer - and much warmer home - in time for the holidays, thanks to Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity.

Dozens gathered in the Habitat home on Prairie du Chien Road Saturday morning for the dedication and the passing of the keys to Sofia Diaz, 26, a single mother with daughters Ruby Diaz, 7, and Emily Diaz, 3. Diaz's mother, Maximina Diaz, 59, also plans to live in the home.

'It's super exciting,” said Sofia Diaz.

The Diaz family's new home is Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity's eighth annual Women Build, a project that encourages women in the community to participate in the construction of a Habitat home.

This year's build was named in honor of Pat Heiden, of Iowa City, who recently retired as executive director at Oaknoll Retirement Community in Iowa City.

'It's so emotional,” Heiden said on being named this year's honoree. 'My heart is filled with gratitude to be a part of the build and to help provide stability for a family who is deserving.”

Construction on the home began in May, and was completed this month.

Scott Hawes, an AmeriCorps volunteer for Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity, said more than 2,000 volunteer hours were logged throughout the build.

Sofia Diaz said her new home is going to be much warmer than her previous home. The Diaz family is moving out of a mobile home in Iowa City with inadequate insulation. Diaz said she frequently dealt with pipes freezing in the winter.

'This is a lot of burden off my shoulders,” Diaz said. 'The other day, it was so cold. I was so ready to be in a new home and be warm.”

Heiden said she also values the relationship she created with Diaz throughout the build - as well as the connection that resonates with her own life. Heiden, like Diaz, was a single mother raising two daughters and understands the need to provide the best possible opportunities for her children.

'We have different backgrounds, but we speak the same language as single mothers,” Heiden said. 'So it's personal for me.”

That connection resonates with Sofia Diaz as well, who called Heiden her role model.

'I really admire her,” Diaz said. 'She's someone I look up to.”

In fact, Diaz said Heiden has inspired her to consider going back to school, like Heiden did while she was raising her daughters. Diaz said she hopes to obtain a degree in nutrition.

The dedication of the Diaz home was one of two conducted Saturday by Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity. The second, which took place Saturday afternoon on South Seventh Avenue, was dedicated to Bawili Muhanzu and Pongo Pombo along with the couple's six children. It was the organization's Interfaith Habitat home, which brings groups from different religious affiliations together to build the home.

For more information on Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity, visit iowavalleyhabitat.org.

l Comments: (319) 368-8536; michaela.ramm@thegazette.com