What does a Habitat home really mean?

Community. Commitment. A hand up. A brighter future.

But let’s not stop there. Let’s hear directly from those who work so hard to create decent, affordable places to call home.

Jeimy Pachon and her family live in a home that she renovated with the help of Habitat for Humanity Colombia.

I heard a phrase that says there’s no big dream or small dreamer. And the truth is, it stuck with me. It is a phrase that I adapted for myself. Why? Because I’ve done what I’ve set out to do. It’s been a struggle, but I have set out to do it. If I hadn’t been ready to help myself, Habitat’s help could only take me so far. I lent my hand to Habitat so they would lend me theirs. — Habitat homeowner Jeimy Pachon

As a homeowner going to the build day after day, I worked side by side with a diverse group of neighbors, each with their own experiences and points of view. In spite of our differences, or maybe because of them, bridges were built. A space is created that wasn’t there before. What binds us are not the superficial labels that we often use to define ourselves, but something deeper and universal: our humanity. — Habitat homeowner Karolyn McClelland

After working side by side with future Habitat homeowners — seeing the sweat on their brows, the hope in their eyes and the gratitude in their souls — I’ve learned that I’m the one who is on the receiving end of things more than anyone else.— Habitat volunteer Rolf Waller

Building a Habitat home isn’t as simple as getting the keys and walking into a new home. We were required to commit 1,500 sweat-equity hours building our home and other Habitat families’ homes. We walked across town — my mother didn’t have a car — every Saturday morning to work on the build site. — Antonia Cuffee, who grew up in a Habitat house

With Habitat, right away, they ask you a lot of questions of where you are at that moment. The whole process is making sure that you’re ready for homeownership. I was really grateful that they were able to help me understand the whole process. What is a credit score? What can you do to save money? Where can you cut back? What are the necessities? I felt like it went from the unknown to the known. The wisdom of, “I get it, I know exactly what it’s going to take to be a homeowner.” — Habitat homeowner Angel Meza

We have a yard so my son was able to go out and throw around the football. My daughter actually started wanting to have more people over. I just thank God that he gave me the opportunity. I was paying a lot of rent before. Now, I put my money into my house. I can say, “This went into my home.” It makes a difference. — Habitat homeowner Shenita Hart

Habitat allowed the 4-year-old me to dream, to really know that I could achieve. It’s truly hard to express what having a Habitat home has done for my family, but I know I would not have gone on to a great four-year university, I wouldn’t have the same aspirations, I wouldn’t be as ambitious as I am without having had that home. That home has blessed me with a wonderful life. — Adriana Resendez, who grew up in a Habitat house