WORCESTER—Two Worcester families are settling into new homes this fall with help from a partnership between UniBank and Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester.
The Whitinsville-based community bank announced it has written the mortgages for two Habitat homes and is finalizing a third, part of an ongoing effort to support affordable homeownership in Central Massachusetts.
“Homeownership is an important milestone in the lives of many families in Central Massachusetts,” said UniBank CEO Michael Welch in a press release. “For too many hardworking parents, owning a home is beyond their reach. UniBank is happy to partner with Habitat for Humanity to write mortgages — the key piece of the process that ends with families getting a key to a new future.”
Debbie Maruca Hoak, CEO of Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester, said UniBank’s support helps make homeownership possible for more families.
“We have a fantastic partnership with UniBank that makes it affordable for families, and enables us to build more homes,” she said in the release. “The cost to build a house keeps rising for us, and the payments for families are based on what they can afford. So our subsidy gets larger, and UniBank stepping in to make the purchase work makes a huge difference.”
Welch said the bank’s involvement reflects its broader commitment to the communities it serves.
“We are both proud and humbled to help hard-working families in Worcester make the jump from oftentimes less than desirable living situations to home ownership,” he said. “This initiative makes our commitment to Worcester very real in terms of supporting the fabric of the communities we serve.”
One new homeowner, MaryLuz Amadeo, said the bank’s team made a challenging process easier.
“I’m so grateful for UniBank’s exceptional guidance and unwavering support throughout the entire home mortgage process,” Amadeo said. “I really appreciated the encouraging words from the UniBank team, which made a significant difference. I’m so thankful to have them as a lender.”
Habitat for Humanity homes are built for families earning 30–60 percent of the area median income, often those living in unsafe or unaffordable housing. Homeowners contribute “sweat equity” by helping to build their homes alongside volunteers before moving in with an affordable mortgage.
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