Home is the key to welcoming communities
After nearly 30 years of marriage, Benjamin and Teresa count building a strong and secure home for their children — 22-year-old Andrea, 18-year-old Natalia and 16-year-old Sebastian — as one of their proudest accomplishments. “I feel safe every day knowing I have my family here within these four walls,” Benjamin says.
Benjamin, a dental technician, first heard about Habitat for Humanity when he dropped off Sebastian for a music lesson at the local middle school. Habitat was hosting a homeownership information session in the school’s library, and Benjamin stuck around to learn more. “That’s when I met my first angel from Habitat,” he says.
At the time, Benjamin and Teresa, a nutrition services worker, were renting a cramped apartment where their children shared one bedroom.
“It was hard to find a space for myself in that room, especially since we didn’t have room for a desk,” Natalia says.
Benjamin and Teresa decided to apply to Habitat in hopes that their family could finally have more space in a home of their own. “When they accepted us, we were deeply moved and cried,” Benjamin recalls with tears in his eyes.
Building a welcoming community
Once they moved into their Habitat home, Benjamin and Teresa prioritized building neighborly relationships. Whether hosting a homeowner meetup or a pickleball tournament for neighbors, the couple is dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcomed.
Benjamin serves as president of the neighborhood association, which he and Teresa co-founded with two other Habitat homeowners. He says that the volunteer hours he completed at the Habitat ReStore and local Habitat events inspired him to be more civic-minded.
“I wanted to be a volunteer president because Habitat taught me to volunteer,” Benjamin says.
A life-changing difference
In their Habitat home, Natalia and Andrea have plenty of space to spread out in the room they share, while Sebastian shares his room with the family’s new pet cat. Having more space helps Natalia focus on her education and enjoy her favorite hobbies.
For Benjamin, their home provides a foundation of safety and security. “It’s like being connected to the house and receiving the strength to move on the next day. That’s how my life’s changed,” he says.
