Oct 8, 2018
What does it mean to be a Habitat homeowner?
What does it mean to their families?
In this episode you’ll meet two ordinary Canadian families who have extraordinary stories to tell. They are Habitat homeowners who’ve turned a hand up into new opportunities for their children and are actively paying it forward in their communities.
Patricia and Tony have been in their Habitat home in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador since November, 2016 and they say it's changed their lives.
Patricia and Tony were running errands on a December evening in 2015 when they finally got the call from Habitat for Humanity Newfoundland and Labrador that their Habitat application had been approved. Tony took the call while Patricia was in the grocery story.
"I had to cry in the car by myself," said Tony. "I couldn't wait for her to get back to the car!"
He handed Patricia the phone as she settled into the passenger seat.
"When I said 'Hello', she said 'Hi Patti, I'm just calling from Habitat to let you know you've been approved.' With that, I lost it. I couldn't talk! He couldn't talk! It still brings tears to our eyes when we talk about it."
Patricia and Tony say the real benefit of being Habitat homeowners has been the effect it's had on their children. Their elder daughter has excelled in her post-secondary studies and their younger son has demonstrated a remarkable improvement in his grades and his personal confidence.
You will also meet Marjorie, an award-winning elementary school teacher in Winnipeg who partnered with Habitat for Humanity Manitoba. Not only did Marjorie get her teaching degree since becoming a Habitat homeowner, she has also paid off her Habitat mortgage.
She and her three children each contributed hundreds of volunteer hours towards the construction of their home but the giving didn't stop once they moved in. Volunteering has become an on-going family commitment, and Marjorie and her family were honoured with a family Volunteer of the Year award in Manitoba for all of the community support they continue to provide.
Marjorie’s family and, Patricia and Tony’s family are just two great examples of the Habitat mission in action – bringing communities together to help families build strength, stability and independence through affordable homeownership.
To find out more about how Habitat for Humanity is changing lives, visit us online to read more stories about Habitat homeowners. To donate to help more families like Marjorie, Patricia and Tony, visit us at habitat.ca/stability.