Photo by Terry Georgia
Berthoud’s first Habitat for Humanity home buyer, Jessie Almeida, made his last mortgage payment in July. Left to right: Jessie and Juliana Almeida with Berthoud Habitat Board President, Ric Haskins and Habitat Executive Director, Tiffany Brodie.

By Terry Georgia
The Surveyor

July was a landmark month for Berthoud resident Jessie Almeida and for Berthoud Habitat for Humanity. Twenty years ago, Almeida was approved for a mortgage to buy the first home built by the then-new Berthoud Habitat for Humanity affiliate. This July, Almeida made the last payment on his mortgage, becoming the first Habitat homeowner in Berthoud to pay off his loan. Last Saturday, about 35 Habitat volunteers, neighbors, family and friends gathered at the Habitat office on Fourth Street to celebrate the family’s accomplishment. Several of the Habitat volunteers had also been there 20 years ago to celebrate their first homeowner.

“It is something we all on the board have been looking forward to, to have a partner family reach the completion of what we started all these years ago.” said Ric Haskins, who was a founding member of the Berthoud Habitat affiliate and now serves as president of the board.

“There’s nothing better than your own house.” said Almeida, surrounded by his family at the celebration, “I’m planning to keep it until I die.” Almeida, like all Habitat homeowners, put a lot of his own sweat-equity into the house. “I worked on it every day, from day one,” he remembered of the two years it took to complete construction of the home. Back in 2003, when construction began, his work on the house was on top of a full time job and caring for his wife, Shirley, who was ill with a serious heart condition. The family was able to move into the home in 2005. Shirley died in 2013. The Almeida’s two children, Justin and Tammy, grew up in the house and now have successful careers and families of their own.

Almeida remarried a few years ago. He and his wife Juliana continue to enjoy an unobstructed view of the mountains from their front porch on Fourth Street.

Paying off the mortgage doesn’t necessarily mean Almeida’s connection to Habitat is over. Ric Haskins emphasized that Habitat will remain available to help the family if needed. “We will continue to support Jessie with advice and direction, especially now that he has to learn what homeowners face when they pay off their mortgage. Now they have to pay their property taxes and home insurance on their own!”

Berthoud Habitat has built 19 homes in Berthoud since 2003 and two more will be finished this fall. Additional homes are also in the planning stages.

At Saturday’s celebration Almeida’s son Justin told the gathering how he felt about his father’s accomplishment. “I’m extremely proud of my Dad. It was an opportunity not many people in his situation [as an immigrant] have. He has lived the American Dream.”