NORTH FORSYTH — A local teacher and her family recently broke ground on their new house with help from a nonprofit organization.

Habitat for Humanity North Central Georgia held a First Nail Ceremony for the Fields family for their home that will be on Hammond Lane in north Forsyth.

Melinda Fields has faced many challenges over the years, and buying a home is not easy, according to Habitat for Humanity. Her family includes her mother, Jewel, and daughters, 19-year-old Hayley and 12-year-old Briana.

“I am so grateful to all of the sponsors and volunteers who are going to help build our home,” Fields said in a statement. “Habitat for Humanity has answered our prayers, and we are so excited that in just four months we will have our own home.”

As the sole income earner for the family, Fields has worked for the last 15 years as a paraprofessional in the Forsyth County school system. According to a news release from the group, her oldest daughter is attending the University of North Georgia while living at home.

Habitat is a nonprofit Christian housing ministry that builds affordable homes for purchase by low-income families “who demonstrate the capacity for responsible homeownership.”

Since 1995, Habitat’s North Central Georgia chapter has completed 273 homes serving an estimated 1,000 family members in the North Fulton area and Cherokee, Dawson and Forsyth counties.

Partner families who earn 30-60 percent of the Atlanta area median income purchase their homes at or near appraised value using 30-year no-interest financing provided by the nonprofit. Each family is required to attend educational classes and perform 200-300 hours of construction “sweat equity.”