For Denise Janes, owning a Habitat home meant living in a place where her kids could be kids.
“We felt stuck where we were at,” she said. “The two-bedroom apartment the five of us were in was all we could afford. We had no other options, and building a home with Habitat would allow us to invest in our own place while also allowing the kids more space to call their own, as well as the opportunity to run, play, and be children.”
It’s not an opportunity she takes for granted. In building her home, she spent every spare moment she had volunteering on the build site to meet the 250-hour “sweat equity” requirement partner families must meet. She feels empowered knowing new skills and taking on the responsibility of owning a home.
It was challenging, but rewarding. She learned a lot, and when she moved in, it was all worth it.
“We were finally home,” she said. “We felt like we were in a stage of waiting and survival when we were living in our apartment … Once we had our own home, we felt a sense of belonging and security.”