25 days, 25 stories: Pride of Ownership

Each day from October 5 to October 29, 2009 we will be posting a new story in celebration of Habitat for Humanity of Omaha’s 25th anniversary. These stories have come to us from people who have been involved with Habitat Omaha in a variety of ways at some point in the past 25 years. We hope that you enjoy these reflections, some old and some new, about Habitat Omaha and that they inspire or renew the spirit of service in you. If you have a story of your own that you would like to share please send it to us at buildinghope.omaha@gmail.com.

 

Pride of Ownership

 

It was a time of desperation for me. Having moved my family back home to Omaha and a struggling single parent raising my three of five children still living at home. I learned of Habitat for Humanity from someone in a Habitat home. After careful consideration I applied only to learn I did not qualify. You must be in a financial position to be able to afford the responsibility of owning a home. That taught me a very important lesson right then. I had some things to straighten out on my way to home ownership. From that point, I was driven to get things in order to be a homeowner. It took me a whole year, but I re-applied and was accepted to start my ’sweat equity’ hours towards a home for my children.

My sweat equity began. Working and learning all different phases of clean-up, remodeling, painting, siding, gutters, installing fences, you name it. I did it, no job too small or too big for me to attempt, except getting on the roof, I am afraid of heights. I actually did try, but got half way up the ladder and froze.

I planned my entire sweat equity hours. I kept track of them, had my family and friends helping me. Everyone was just as excited as I was to see our home coming together from the ground up. I remember the day we framed our home.

My son graduated from Central and went into the Marines from this house. My daughter graduated from Central and went away to the University of Southern California. She moved back to Omaha graduating with her Bachelor of Science degree from Creighton University from this house. Now I am on my last child at home, a junior in high school and I thank Habitat for enabling me to be able to give my children a home that I could afford and whereby they could get great educations because we were not worried about affordable housing and paying someone else’s mortgage.

I will never forget the wonderful people from HDR that sponsored my home. The generosity, the caring and the wonderful people that helped me earn this house that I have been proud of every since I moved into it. Not a big fancy house, but it is mine. No outrageous mortgage and best of all no interest. Not ever to worry about foreclosure, because, I can afford my home.

Thank you and God Bless the staff at Habitat for Humanity, all the wonderful volunteers and partners collaborating; you do good works.

Beryl
Habitat Omaha Homeowner

Visit the new habitatomaha.org to learn more about Habitat for Humanity of Omaha, find out about volunteer opportunities and to donate now.