Dora Monroy stands at her home’s front door in San Cayetano, Nicaragua. Her home was built from a donation by Matt Curtis of Madison. (CONTRIBUTED)

Matt Curtis of Matt Curtis Real Estate Inc. was the first Alabama realtor to join Giveback Homes. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – If she could see them, Dora Monroy wouldn’t believe the huge homes in Clift’s Cove and Heritage Plantation. However, she’s just as proud of her new house, built by donations from Matt Curtis of Matt Curtis Real Estate Inc.

Curtis was the first realtor to join Giveback Homes, which nurtures relationships between needy families and a network of business professionals who want to help with housing. Giveback Homes partners with Habitat for Humanity Nicaragua.

“Matt Curtis is dedicated to build a complete home in Nicaragua for every 100 homes (he) sells,” GiveBack Homes publicist Caroline Pinal said. “We can’t wait to see Matt continue to change lives in Nicaragua.”

Dora Monroy, 73, lives in San Cayetano, Nicaragua with her 34-year-old daughter, who was born with a mental disability. Dora and her daughter have been living in her nephew’s home in overcrowded conditions without running water, electricity or bathroom.

Dora has 12 other children, but none help Dora financially. She receives meager assistance, such as grains, from the local government. Dora works at a sugar mill and earns $10 per week. They also receive food and supplies from neighbors.

Homebuilding costs in Nicaragua vary from project to project. “Currently, it costs approximately $5,000 to build a home,” Pinal said. “Dora and her daughter now have a safe, decent place to call home, all thanks to Matt Curtis.”

Dora’s new home is complete with concrete floors, reinforced masonry, cinder blocks, a 26-gauge metal roof and two wooden windows.

Curtis joined Giveback Homes because he believes “to whom much is given, much is expected. Since we’re in the housing business, providing housing to fellow humans in need is a great way to invest in others’ lives.”

Curtis was Giveback Homes’ first member from Alabama. “If more local realtors join the movement, we can potentially start a building project in/near Madison, too,” Pinal said.

Curtis’ office address is 8097 Madison Blvd., Suite 103. For more information, call 256-270-9393, email to Matt@MattCurtisRealEstate.com or visit MattCurtisRealEstate.com or Facebook/Matt Curtis Real Estate.