The local Habitat for Humanity just finished its 16th home and moved its chosen family, Spring Liles and her two children, into the Sunlight Waters home near Cle Elum on Tuesday.

Liles qualified for her home in 2012 but the original structure had to be demolished and rebuilt when it was found that it had no foundation and contained asbestos.

Liles said at the time of her application process that she was unaware that Bank of America had donated land and a house and wanted the home to go to a disabled veteran.

“I was in the Navy,” Liles said. “And my son is disabled, so I was really the only one who qualified for the house.”

Habitat for Humanity has been in Kittitas County since 1993 and is working on two new homes.

The 17th home, is next to Liles home on Highline Loop and the 18th home will also be built in the Sunlight Waters community.

Habitat is already accepting applications for the next two homes. A family was chosen for the 17th home, but they backed out unexpectedly, according to Ott.

Sherri Ott, executive director of the Kittitas County Habitat for Humanity, said that a home typically takes less than a year to construct, and around 250 volunteers will help build the homes.

Ott said the best part of the job is not only building the houses but interacting with the volunteers.

The volunteers are both community members from around Kittitas County and Central students who come out to work on the jobs.

“When they get on the job they are so blessed by being on there that when they walk off the job you can see it in their faces,” Ott said. “They feel like they’ve been given something. It’s hard to explain—you kind of have to watch it happen. But it’s such a cool thing.”