The Douglass Community welcomed two families over the weekend, as Habitat for Humanity South Collin County volunteers and sponsors marked the beginning of one project while dedicating the completion of another home on Oct. 17. The build kick-off event brought 50 Samsung volunteer employees out to complete their first full day of work at the site, where Julio and Sandra Arguello and their two children will live once the home is complete. Local residents and leaders also attended the ceremonial driving of first nails event, including Council Member David Downs and Deputy City Manager Frank Turner. When complete, the Arguello family will own and maintain the home interest-free. “When we break ground it’s not as glamorous, and [it] is held way before we start building a lot [of] times,” said Sid Buniff, development director for Habitat for Humanity South Collin County. “This was a day when the actual work starts. By end day, all the walls are framed.” The Arguello family is one example of the 300 families that are currently on the nonprofit’s waiting list, Buniff said. Having lived in a one-bedroom apartment for several years, the Arguello’s demonstrated an immediate need. Applicants must also earn 25-60 percent of the area median income, commit to providing a set number of sweat equity hours towards Habitat projects, and be willing to take on the responsibilities of owning a home. Currently, it can take up to two years to be selected for a home, and the waiting list seems to have grown over the past year and half, Buniff said. “Families come to us in many different ways. We’re helping that load of middle -income families succeed,” he said. “Some families are paying 50 percent and above of their income on rent, which doesn’t bode well for a family to thrive. Or they’re in an overcrowded situation.” Habitat for Humanity South Collin County has dedicated 66 homes in the Douglass Community since 1998. Capital One will hold its build kick-off Oct. 28, followed by a women-led project Nov. 20. Other Habitat projects taking place over the next few months include a youth build in Wylie. It takes about 18 build days to complete a house, Buniff said, most of which are the work of local churches and company employees. “We could not do this without our sponsors,” he said. “Any available land or undeveloped land in the Douglass Community, we would like to fill it with a home and a family in that home. We’re [also] trying to get more and more churches involved because there’s a part of giving back to the community and helping our fellow man that is naturally built in there.” St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Plano also dedicated its first Habitat house on Oct. 17 to the Jama family. The entire process, from fundraising to completion, took the church about two years to complete. Capital One is also scheduled to hold its build kick-off day in the Douglass Community Oct. 28. The nonprofit organization also has several other projects in the works in Plano and Wylie. For more information, visit www.habitat-scc.org.