Angela Anthony, of Winchester, is a single mother. She works a steady job and lives in a rental home with her two children, 16-year-old Amaya and seven-year-old Sebastian.

She has long dreamed of owning her own home.

That dream came a step closer to reality when ground was broken on the site of her new home, located at 54 Hughes Ave., Saturday morning.

For the last decade Anthony has considered a partnership with Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit organization that partners with people to build decent, affordable housing. The houses are then sold to approved homeowners at no profit and with a zero interest mortgage with payments based on income.

Homeowners must complete 12-weeks of courses related to financial stability and homeownership.

Anthony applied to become a Habitat home owner about a year ago. After putting in 50 hours of “sweat equity” with her daughter working on a Habitat home in Waco, Anthony was able to select her lot in Winchester.

She will build her new home alongside volunteers and members from 12 local churches as part of an Apostles Build. So far, nine local churches have signed on to participate. Representatives from First Presbyterian, St. Joseph Catholic, Christview Christian, Franklin Avenue Church of the Living God, Trinity United Methodist, Emmanuel Episcopal, First United Methodist and First Baptist gathered Saturday to bless to site for Anthony and her family.

So far, the churches have raised $16,000 along with the donation of a $4,000 roof towards the overall goal of $40,000 for the project.

Volunteers from three more local churches are needed to complete goal of 12 participating churches for the build.

Anthony’s home is the fourth project in Clark County in the past two years, along with a rehabilitation project on Cook Avenue and new builds on Walnut and Pearl streets.

Anthony was able to participate in this build because another family, the Collinses  completed all of the required education and was able to improve their financial situation enough to purchase their own home.

“They wrote us a beautiful letter telling us they were able to buy their own home and no longer needed this one,” Joe Prekopa, a Habitat board member, said. “That is probably one of our greatest accomplishments.”

Anthony said her new home will provide some stability for her family.

“I carry a lot on my shoulders being a single mom that my kids don’t know about,” she said. “It’s going to be a lot different for them.”

The walls will be raised on the Anthony’s home during a ceremony Oct. 8.

Contact Whitney Leggett at whitney.leggett@winchestersun.com.