LAMBERTVILLE: Ananes are moving to York Street

By John Tredrea, Special Writer
   LAMBERTVILLE — March 26 will be a day the Anane family will never forget, thanks to Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity (RVHFH).
   At 3 p.m. that day, a dedication ceremony will be held at the family’s new home, built by RVHFH with the Anane family’s help, at 84 York St. in Lambertville.
   ”Capping off the ceremony will be the presentation of the keys to their new home to the very excited Anane family,” said Louia Bartok, volunteer resource and public relations manager for RVHFH.
   ”During the past year, the Ananes worked alongside numerous volunteers building their home, to complete the hours of sweat equity’ required of all Partner Families. As with all of our Partner Families, once they Ananes are in their new home, their dream of finally having a safe and affordable place to live, grow and thrive will finally be fulfilled,” said Ms. Bartok.
   Ms. Bartok said Helen Anana (pronounced “Ana-Nay”) is a divorced, single mother of three sons — Jason, 15; Noah, 10; and Travis, 7. Ms. Anana grew up in New Jersey, but moved to Germany when she got married. She returned to the United States in 2010.
   Ms. Anane’s oldest son lives in Germany during the school year, but spends summers with his mother. He plans to stay with her permanently in the summer of 2013.
   ”The Anane family currently lives in a two-bedroom apartment in Somerset,” Ms. Bartok said. “The apartment is crowded, and, in addition, the rent consumes approximately one-third of Helen’s monthly income.”
   Meanwhile, Ms. Anane, in addition to pitching in with ‘sweat equity’ with Habitiat of Humanity to help build the home she will own, has been working hard to make ends meet.
   ”To support her family, Helen works two jobs — one as a school bus driver, and the other as administrative assistant in the Somerset County Department of Human Services,” Ms. Bartok said. “Helen plans to attend classes to obtain driver certification and hopes to work full-time as a delivery driver in the future.”
   Ms. Anane’s experience living overseas where the expectations of renters are different than encountered in other areas, served to fuel her desire to make it as a homeowner.
   ”Helen is motivated to succeed as a homeowner,” Ms. Bartok said. “While living in Germany, she gained valuable experience in home maintenance, since renters there are expected to install needed home items and maintain their apartments. Helen has shown herself to be highly organized and disciplined about adhering to a budget to make her dream of owning a home a reality.”
   The Anane residence is RVHFH’s 47th house and the second one in recent months in Lambertville. The Centamore family, also of York Street, celebrated their new home earlier in the winter.
   Corporate sponsors have helped Habitat for Humanity help Ms. Anane become a homeowner. They are Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Ethicon, Inc.; Johnson and Johnson ITSS; and Janssen Research and Development in the United States.