ELKHART — Erica Sherman moved into her Habitat for Humanity house three weeks ago. And on Tuesday, volunteers from the organization and Sherman's friends and family came to dedicate the home.

The house was built through the Women Build program, which ensures that mostly women are involved during the home's construction. The program is designed to encourage women's interest in construction and in Habitat for Humanity. This was the 10th home that the group has built in the Elkhart County area. Almost 60 women were involved in the building of Sherman's home.

Sherman moved in with her three children, Mason Sherman, 8, Camden Malone, 10 months, and Ashlynn Sherman, 3. They were previously living with her mother to save money. Sherman said they're more comfortable now that everyone in her family has their own bedroom.

“We can actually have our own space,” she said.

The four-bedroom, two-bathroom. 1340-square-foot house is typical for Habitat homes. She has already painted the rooms in the home for her three children. She put in more than 100 hours working on the house.

“Now that it's here, it was all worth it,” she said.

Sherman, a first-time homeowner, said her sister told her about the Habitat program more than two years ago. She was accepted into the program and had to complete 250 hours of sweat equity, including 50 hours of working the construction of her own home, 50 hours of working on other homes and several classes, including a 13-week course on personal finance.

“We want to make sure they can pay for it,” Tom McArthur, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Elkhart County, said.

Unlike a normal bank mortgage, Sherman will not have to pay interest to Habitat on her home. McArthur said it would cost about half what it would be if you were paying the mortgage to a bank. Sherman will begin mortgage payments next month. McArthur said that Habitat is currently building its 160th house in the Elkhart County area.It builds 10-11 homes a year.

It has three upcoming public information meetings:

• 10 a.m. Saturday, Pierre Moran Pavilion, 201 W. Wolf Ave., Elkhart

• Noon Monday, Habitat for Humanity office, 2526 Peddlers Village Road, Goshen

• 6 p.m. Monday, Pierre Moran Pavilion, 201 W. Wolf Ave., Elkhart

For more information on Habitat call 533-6109 or go to habitatec.com.