On a mission to build 40 homes this year, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Birmingham dedicated its 32nd home Friday.

Christine Schultz, and her two children, Jes, 6, and Samantha, 3, are the proud new owners of a 1,200-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bathroom house on Highway 206.

“Owning a new home will help me financially to be able to provide for my family,” Schultz said. “It will give us more room where we won’t be so cluttered. We can just make a better home where my kids can grow up and feel secure.”

Habitat Birmingham partnered with the Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders’ South Chapter to sponsor the Schultz home.

“Habitat for Humanity doesn’t build houses for families, we build houses with families,” said Charles Moore, president and CEO of Habitat Birmingham.

Moore added, “Christine has volunteered over 500 hours working on other families’ homes as well as her own. Now, all of her hard work has paid off.”

GBAHB South Chapter member Clay Harbin called the partnership with Habitat Birmingham an “unbelievable experience.”

“The South Chapter could not have chosen a more deserving family to work with on this project,” Harbin said. “Christine Schultz was there working with us through it all. It has been a pleasure to help make Christine’s dream of home ownership a reality.”

The Schultz home is the second home built by Habitat Birmingham in Shelby County, said Beth Jerome, Habitat Birmingham’s director of development. Sixteen homes were previously built by Habitat Shelby County before it merged with Habitat Birmingham in 2006.

Habitat Birmingham is now a tri-county affiliate service Jefferson, Shelby and Walker counties. The non-profit receives more than 1,300 requests for housing assistance annually.

Habitat Birmingham broke ground on its latest Shelby County project Sept. 27. Natasha Rutledge and her daughters, Amilyia, 11, Chemesia, 7, and Takhishilya, 6, will too reap the joys of home ownership.

Asbury United Methodist Church will co-sponsor the Rutledge home, also located on Montevallo’s Highway 206.

Jerome said Habitat Birmingham is currently seeking new partners in Shelby County — future homeowners, volunteers and sponsors — to help the organization achieve its goal of of making quality, affordable houses for low income families.

For more information, call 780-1234 or visit the Web site www.habitatbirmingham.com.