Current News — Highland Lakes Habitat for Humanity

October 2025 News

Meet Our New Home Owners!

Meet the McKinney Family

Sara and Shawn McKinney and their four children moved into their new Habitat home in Granite Shoals that they proudly helped build in February 2024. Since then, they have welcomed their newest family member, a baby girl born in July 2025. Sara is a registered nurse and Shawn is employed as a power line worker, and they have lived in the area for many years in both Marble Falls and Burnet. At first, Sara was skeptical about getting a Habitat home, recalling having lived a rough life and been told “no” a few too many times. After years of renting and finally living with family while their Habitat home was being built, Sara said their “dream of having their little nook in the community” finally came true. The children no longer have to change schools, and they can keep the same friends.

Shawn had previously worked in the construction industry and spent many hours working on other Habitat homes in order to meet the sweat equity requirement, often going above and beyond. Shawn said “It's like a little family once you start working with all the guys.“ He is now busy renovating their garage into a bedroom for their two older children. The family nodded in agreement when Sara said, “Home sweet home instead of moving around!”

Meet the Ordonez Family

“It's a big blessing.”

Elizabeth Ordonez and her 12-year-old daughter are lifelong residents in the area. They were thrilled to be selected for a Habitat home. After moving into their home in Granite Shoals in November 2024, we asked them about their experience and how owning their home has charged their lives. A medical assistant, Elizabeth has worked all of her adult life but always had to rent and most recently she and her daughter lived with her father. She spoke about the responsibility of owning a home - paying the monthly mortgage and keeping it maintained. The hours she spent helping build her home along with Habitat’s volunteer crew gave her valuable knowledge skills as a first-time homeowner such as learning how to caulk and knowing what she needs to regularly inspect.

Her daughter loves to play soccer and is happy to finally have safe place to practice in their fenced back yard, and to play with their two dogs. As a mother, Elizabath is relieved to have the safety and privacy of their own home.

She noted it can be hard to find people with hearts who want to serve others, but she found that with the Habitat volunteers. “I am very thankful for Highland Lakes Habitat for Humanity and their volunteers for their dedication in building us our loving home!”