Bretheren Housing Association cut the ribbon a renovated home in Harrisburg Tuesday that honors Ray Diener, who was murdered outside his Lancaster County home six years ago.
Diener was targeted at random by four young men in May 2007. The shooter was sentenced to death while the other three men are serving decades-long prison sentences.
In the years since his death, his family wanted to honor his commitment to giving back to those less fortunate. Working with Brethren Housing Association, family and friends renovated a former crack house on Hummel Street in Harrisburg, turning it into units for two families.
“He lives on in the various things he was involved with. I’m just so grateful and proud of my mom for continuing what he believed in. This is an act of love for her,” said Sharon Taraschi, Diener’s daughter.
The home was built as part of BHA’s “20/20 Vision Campaign.” It’ll eventually serve as a transitional house for single moms and their kids. BHA has been working to renovate the adjacent homes on Hummel Street as part of an effort to revitalize that section of Allison Hill.