Habitat helps family realize their American Dream

Habitat for Humanity is dedicated its 66th home in Salisbury Saturday morning for a hard working couple from Haiti who can now call themselves homeowners.

Pirter Pierre and his family are realizing the American dream, thanks to Habitat for Humanity.

"I'm feeling happy.  Feeling very, very happy in my wife and my children," said Pieter.

Pierre came to the U.S. from Haiti in 2009, working tirelessly to bring his family to the states.  It was a journey full of hurdles and challenges.

"They had to face like, money struggles, the work and with all these babies coming in, they had to find a way to get them food, and pay for them," said son Josias, now a high school sophomore.

Now at Bennett High, Josias says all of those struggles ended when Habitat stepped in, working for two years to build a four bedroom home.

"Coming from Haiti, it was really hard to get from there to here, and they're here now, and they're really happy about it."

Mom and Dad work opposite shifts at a chicken plant to support their family and to make sure a parent is always home.

Josias says he sees how hard his parents work, and it's inspiring him to get a degree in engineering when he's done with high school.

"For me, when I talk to the kids and I hear that they want to go to college, they're doing great in school, the stability factor of having a home that they know is their's, that is really what touches my heart," said Habitat Executive Director Molly Hilligoss.

Since immigrating to the United States Pirter has also received his citizenship, adding that he now plans to begin saving to help the rest of his family attain theirs.

If you would like to get involved, you can go to wicomicohabitat.org.