Harbin family receives keys to new Habitat for Humanity home

CLARKESVILLE, Ga. — The Harbin family received the keys to their new home Saturday morning during a Habitat for Humanity Northeast Georgia home dedication ceremony, marking the final step in a yearlong journey toward homeownership.

The home, Habitat House No. 83 at 282 Rockford Creek Road, was dedicated as volunteers worked next door on another Habitat build, underscoring the organization’s expanding side-by-side construction approach.

“Start of our life”

For U.S. Marine Corps veteran Ethan Harbin, the moment represented more than a milestone.

“That’s basically like the start of our life,” Harbin said.

Harbin said he enlisted in the Marine Corps after high school, where he later met his wife. The couple now has two daughters.

“My family is all I really care about,” he said. “As long as I can take care of them.”

Habitat Executive Director Brian Young said the Harbin family’s completion of the program reflects both persistence and partnership.

“Simply put, it means another family in need of safe, secure housing now has a home,” Young said.

A yearlong process of partnership

Young said Habitat families typically spend about a year to a year-and-a-half in the program before receiving the keys to their homes, completing volunteer hours and participating in financial preparation along the way.

He said the Harbins were deeply engaged throughout the process.

“Throughout this process, they have been incredibly engaged,” Young said. “Elizabeth Harbin has been at the build site weekly, and Ethan works a great deal, but he comes to every weekend event he can.”

Young said Habitat staff first met the family during a home visit, when they also learned Ethan Harbin is a Marine Corps veteran. He said the organization works to ensure veterans are aware of opportunities through the program.

Building “together”

Young said Habitat’s mission — “to bring people together to build homes, communities and hope” — extends far beyond construction sites.

“Together means a lot more than just groups of volunteers coming together on a build site,” he said.

He said staff, board members, donors, ReStore operations, partner families and community volunteers all contribute to each completed home.

Young also highlighted a recent donor visit that included a 90-year-old supporter who toured the home, met the Harbin family and saw firsthand how contributions are used.

“Together strengthens community, transforms lives and provides an opportunity for families to thrive for generations to come,” he said.

Construction momentum

Young said Habitat Northeast Georgia has adopted a construction model that allows crews to build multiple homes at the same time, increasing efficiency and volunteer engagement.

“We can build twice as fast, essentially, as what we were doing two and a half years ago,” he said.

He said the organization recently secured additional property that will allow for the construction of eight to 10 more homes using the same approach.
Volunteers and next steps

As the ceremony concluded, Young encouraged community members interested in volunteering, donating or applying for the partner family program to contact Habitat directly.

“I absolutely love this organization,” he said. “I was volunteering for Habitat more than 20 years ago, and it’s just something that has always been a part of me.”

He said partner families are required to invest significant time and effort before receiving homeownership.

Young also thanked community partners, including mortgage support staff who assist families through the lending process.

A new beginning

For the Harbin family, the day marked the beginning of a new chapter.

“That’s basically like the start of our life,” Harbin said.

As volunteers continued working next door, Habitat leaders said the moment reflected the organization’s broader mission — one home completed, another underway, and a community building both side by side.

For more information about volunteering or supporting Habitat for Humanity Northeast Georgia, contact Executive Director Brian Young at [email protected]