Once she was approved for the homeownership program, Alondra poured her heart and soul into helping to build her Habitat home alongside volunteers. And when her children finally walked through the home for the first time, Alondra says it was “so emotional” seeing their faces light up with excitement as they chose their new rooms.

“It’s a good investment for our family,” Alondra says. 

Creating a lifetime of memories to cherish 

In their Habitat home, Sindy, Andrea and Jayden have an entertainment area where they play games and watch movies. They also have more space to get their studies done and access to better schools. The stability that their home and the surrounding community provide gives Alondra peace. 

“Homeownership means to me that now I’m going to be having a house for myself, not worrying my rent will go up, and then if my kids will have a safe place to be,” Alondra says. “Now it will be a house for us. Now I know the neighbors, so I know that this will be a safe place for us to build memories.”

Finding affordability with Habitat

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.

Neighbors to count on

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.

Sounds of music and joy

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.”

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.