Dearborn Veteran Gets Mortgage-Free Home

Maria Hechabarria speaks with reporters after receiving the keys to a mortgage-free home in Dearborn. (Photo courtesy of Wayne County)

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A Dearborn veteran and mother of two received the keys to a mortgage-free home on Veterans Day.

Maria Hechabarria, a veteran and member of the Michigan National Guard, received the completely renovated home under a partnership between Chase, which donated the home, and the National Faith Homebuyers Program, the Veterans Services Division of the Wayne County Department of Health and the Detroit Pistons’ Hoops for Troops program.

The county’s Veterans Services Division provided referrals to National Faith Homebuyers, which made the final selection. National Faith Homebuyers is a national nonprofit group that has helped more than 2,000 families become first-time homeowners and economically independent since the program was established in 1997.

“Veterans make significant sacrifices to uphold our country’s freedom, and through our Veterans Services Division we are able to provide resources and opportunities that show our appreciation for their dedication to service,” Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans said in a statement.

“Thanks to the contributions of these generous partners, we are changing lives for the better, not just for members of our armed services and their families, but for the generations that follow,” Evans said.

Dina Harris, president of National Faith Homebuyers, said the program recognizes the importance of providing a path to homeownership for veterans who “have sacrificed everything for this country.”

“Without the dedication and service to our country by our service members, we wouldn’t be here today,” Harris said. “That’s why National Faith Homebuyers is devoted to creating sustainable homeownership opportunities for our heroes.”

Hechabarria’s new three-bedroom home on Chicago Street is 1,137 square feet and is located on a 5,376-square-foot lot. The property has a two-car garage.