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Now that they’ve built their “forever home” with Habitat, Cynthia and Valdemar are focused on building a safe, loving community where their sons can have a bright future.
Cynthia, Valdemar and their sons — 16-year-old Valdemar III, known as “Val,” and 15-year-old Logan — love challenging their neighbors to a game of pickleball. On Sundays, the families meet at a park near their Habitat for Humanity homes to play, laugh and connect. Throughout the week, they watch out for each other, whether it’s picking up a package when the other family is away or borrowing a cup of sugar.
It’s a life that Cynthia, a part-time recreation aide, and Valdemar, who works in the information technology field, always dreamed of — having a home in a tight-knit community where their children can play and grow.
“Community is important because this is where we want to be for the rest of our lives. This is our forever home,” Cynthia says.
With two growing boys, Cynthia and Valdemar were quickly running out of space. Each year, their apartment’s rent increased despite mold issues and needed repairs that were slow to be fixed. The couple searched for a home of their own but struggled to find anything in their budget.
“Before finding out about Habitat we really couldn’t afford a home,” Cynthia says. “It felt like everything was way above our price range.”
The course of their homeownership journey changed when Valdemar spotted an ad for a Habitat homeownership information session. The couple attended, and they left the meeting hopeful. That hope turned into pure joy after applying for a Habitat mortgage and learning they were approved.
While working on the build site of their townhome community, Cynthia and Valdemar met other future Habitat homeowners who shared their passion for service. The couple even co-founded a neighborhood association with two other Habitat homeowners who are now their good friends — and pickleball opponents.
Cynthia and Valdemar say that having a safe and affordable home in a loving community has led to an abundance of blessings. But far and away the best part has been watching Val and Logan thrive.
“They have their own space, and I think their self-esteem has gone up tremendously,” Cynthia says. “Their grades have gone up. They have been practicing more of their sports; they both like baseball and basketball. And they both love the violin, and I love hearing them play.”
Benjamin and Teresa thought affordable homeownership was out of reach until they found Habitat. Now the homeowners are active community leaders, and their family is flourishing.
After nearly 30 years of marriage, Benjamin and Teresa count building a strong and secure home for their children — 23-year-old Andrea, 19-year-old Natalia and 17-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.
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.
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.
Habitat for Humanity CEO Jonathan Reckford lays out the state of global housing, barriers to affordability and practical steps that can tackle this crisis.
Habitat for Humanity brought advocates to Washington, D.C., this week to urge Congress to take decisive action on the nation’s affordable housing crisis.
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March 9-12 at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, Habitat is the proud presenting sponsor of this year’s Social Impact Pavilion. SXSW is an iconic event celebrating the convergence of technology, film, music, education and culture. Join us as we connect with global innovators, creators and leaders driving positive change.
