Habitat for Humanity bestowed a St. Joseph mother with the keys to her new home Thursday.

Ashley Carpenter said she started the process of applying for home ownership with Habitat last spring. After finding out she was approved, Carpenter said she dedicated the 200 hours required by helping to build her home and working in the ReStore.

“You have to do a lot of homeowner classes. You have to do your 200 hours, you have to have your family and friends do 200 hours,” Carpenter said. “I love having my family and friends see the transformation in what we’ve all accomplished.”

Carpenter said she has a 5-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl. She said without assistance from Habitat it would have been a lot more difficult to become a homeowner.

“I get my keys today at 1 o’clock and I get to go after that,” she said.

New Habitat for Humanity Executive Director, Cate Manley attended the 66th home blessing in the 3100 block of Locust. Manley said she officially started with the agency last week.

“I have not interacted a lot with this new homeowner because it’s only been a week and a half but we have seen her several times and she’s worked really hard for this house,” Manley said.

Manley said she’s looking forward to taking on her new role with Habitat.

“I’m really looking forward to integrating into the community myself,” Manley said. “I haven’t been in the community for about 25 years and really growing and expanding our collaboration with other partners and our volunteers.”