Woman tours new home with mayor

MIAMI (WSVN) -- A South Florida woman is overjoyed, as she toured her newly rebuilt house with the mayor.

With Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez by her side, Ramona walked through her new home Monday.

It is part of Mayor Alvarez's program called SHARP, which repairs and refurbishes substandard homes for people who cannot afford it, mainly seniors. The County teamed up with Habitat for Humanity and Mercantile Commerce Bank to pull the whole thing off. "It feels great, I mean, these are the things that you do as a public servant that makes you remember why you got into public service to begin with, when you're able to help people that need your help," said Alvarez.

Hurricane Wilma destroyed Ramona's wood frame home and the County deemed it an unsafe structure, and Ramona's home of 30 years needed to be knocked down. "There was just too much damage to repair. We repaired one spot and another spot would fall apart," said her daughter, Gina Cabrera-Mesa.

On Dec. 22, Ramona's old home was demolished. Now, the home where she raised her three daughters looks better than ever with a stronger foundation. "I'm so happy. I'm so happy. I can't believe all of this," Ramona said.

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