Montgomery Habitat for Humanity broke ground on three new projects Wednesday morning in what they're calling their "Blitz Build Initiative" in North Montgomery's New Hope Village neighborhood.

Habitat for Humanity, an organization that builds affordable homes for those in need of housing, has worked on several homes within New Hope Village on Millard Fuller Drive. The Blitz Build Initiative, announced in April, is intended to be an approximately 90-day long project to build three new homes on the dedicated plots.

A development running alongside the Blitz Build Initiative is the new road coming to Millard Fuller Drive in the near future. Currently, between Alabama River Parkway and the three new plots on Miller Fuller Drive, there's gravel and potholes instead of asphalt.

Councilwoman Julie Beard of District 2 said the push for a road in this area has been an ongoing need that the city has promised to address for 20 years, but now, "the funding has finally come to the front."

In addition to the three plots, Habitat for Humanity plans to build a "pocket park" directly across from the plots and hopes to build an entry sign for the neighborhood after the asphalt for the road is laid.

Susan Johnson, executive director of Montgomery Habitat for Humanity, said that she sees investing in individuals in the community as a way to stimulate development of the whole city.

"When you reduce blight, when you provide home ownership, you reduce crime," Johnson said. "Every person in Montgomery, is a stakeholder in Montgomery. By reducing crime, by providing home ownership, it benefits all of Montgomery. Our goal is to help individuals first of all and then build our community."

Ashley and Davyion Mayo, a young couple who will become the homeowners of one of homes the plots will house, said that though they are not from Alabama, they felt drawn to Montgomery. Through the Blitz Build project, the couple said they found a way to "stay in Montgomery forever."

Johnson said that she wants to not only provide for the community's physical shelter needs, but bolster community spirit, too.

"We're looking forward to helping people with hope, that's why we called this 'New Hope Village,'" Johnson said. "The whole point is hope, and then we can spread that hope to every other community within Montgomery."