PEABODY — Charlene Cruz could only stare in wonder as Habitat for Humanity volunteers transformed her Sanborn Street house on Wednesday.
“My husband passed away four years ago, that’s why I needed help,” said Cruz. “I was praying all the time, saying to my husband that the roof was getting bad, it was not leaking, but it was bad. I couldn’t close the windows; it was cold and the house needed a lot of work.”
Due to her roof’s structural failures and the home’s old, inefficient windows, Cruz also struggled with extremely high energy bills.
She contacted City Hall staff, who then connected her to the North Shore branch of Habitat for Humanity.
After speaking with city officials and Habitat, Cruz successfully utilized a unique three-way partnership involving the city, Habitat, and Coastal Windows & Exteriors.
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