Cornelia and her two children, son Elijah (10) and daughter Skylar (6) are a tight knit family that can hardly contain their excitement when they think of moving into their Habitat home.  Cornelia has a joyful personality, and loves to dance, sing karaoke, and travel, though it’s been some time since she could do this.  Elijah is interested in video games and Skylar prefers girlier activities like doing her nails, but the family takes time to bond by playing games, volunteering in the community, or taking walks together.  “We are just a family, and we love each other.”

Cornelia is a hardworking woman juggling a job as a caregiver, motherhood, and the Habitat homeownership program, taking it all one day at a time.  She finds all three energizing and rewarding, and she is excited for the future, but life has not always been easy for Cornelia.  “I was starting in the Habitat program back in 2017,” she explains, “but I had a miscarriage and I had to drop out.  After that, my head and heart just weren’t in it … this time, my heart and my head are there.  Working toward this home is giving me hope, and I’m so appreciative to be in the program.”

Cornelia, Elijah, and Skylar currently live together in a small 3-bedroom apartment.  They have minimal space for doing the outdoor activities they enjoy, or just riding around and playing, but it was the best living arrangement for their budget and needs.  One day, however, Cornelia learned about the Habitat program from her friend Sarah, who had gone through the steps herself.  “She was telling me about how it was a great program, and that you end up in a home with an affordable mortgage and low utility bills.  So I worked on getting things in order and I applied.”

“When I got the call that I was accepted into the program, I was joyful.  I cried and prayed to God.”  Cornelia explains that no longer having to rent, but really having a place to call home, will bring a new level of stability to their lives.  It will be a place they can know is truly theirs, a place to host friends and family, and a place for her children to grow up in.  She adds that her kids can’t wait to move in and have their own yard to play in — they even want a trampoline!  As for Cornelia, “I’m looking forward to being able to mark my kids’ heights on the walls… I’m happy about that… I’m smiling right now!  I do every time I think about our future home!”

Since her acceptance, Cornelia has been steadily putting in the hours to make her dream of homeownership a reality.  She notes that the program is not always the easiest, but well worth it for the security it will bring her and her children.  “Right now, I’ll be honest, it’s a little stressful working and working on sweat equity with Habitat, but I manage!  The stress management classes they offer help me a lot.  Being in Habitat’s program is a joy and we are very appreciative.  I tell myself all the time: just hold on, it’s all worth it, don’t give up! In the end, it’s going to be a beautiful thing for me and my family!”