Stability Two Years Later
Stability Two Years Later
Change can be intimidating. Whether it’s starting a new job, moving into a new home, or welcoming a new baby, life’s biggest moments often begin with uncertainty. It’s those same moments that lead to growth, opportunity, and life’s best memories.
Two years ago, I found myself in one of those moments of change. After moving to a new city, I began my role as the Marketing Coordinator at Fox Cities Habitat for Humanity. Just a few weeks into my new position, I attended one of my very first Habitat Home Dedications, celebrating James and Anna as they received the keys to their new home. While I was learning the mission of Habitat and getting to know the families we serve, James and Anna were beginning a new chapter of their own, building a life in a place they could finally call home.
Recently, I had the opportunity to return to their home and catch up with them on how life has been these past two years. As I walked through their front door two years later, I couldn’t help but reflect on how much has changed for all of us. For me, it marked two years of witnessing the incredible impact an affordable home can have. For them, it marked two years of raising their children, making memories and turning their house into a home. It was a full circle moment.
The Beginning of Their Journey with Fox Cities Habitat
When James and Anna got accepted into the Homebuyer program in the summer of 2023, their twins, Princess and Prince were just over a year old and their third child, Blessing, was a newborn.
By the time they received the keys to their home, they had three young children and another baby on the way. Today, their twins are 4 years old, their third child is 3 and their youngest is now 1 year and 7 months old. Anna still remembers the excitement of move-in day. Being pregnant made the move physically challenging, but thanks to the help of James, family, and friends, they were able to settle into their new home.
“I love everything about my home. I’m very comfortable here,” Anna told me with a smile.
Anna’s favorite parts are her spacious kitchen, living room and their large primary bedroom. They told me their home gives them room to gather, celebrate birthdays and holidays, host dinners with family and friends, and make memories together. More than anything James and Anna love seeing their children have a safe space to be kids.
“The memories I have loved here most have been watching my kids be comfortable and play whenever they want and have the safety and space to play,” Anna told me.
Whether they’re playing upstairs, downstairs, or running through the yard, their kids have the freedom to laugh, explore and play. During the summer, the backyard becomes the heart of family fun, with a water splash pad keeping the kids cool and entertained for hours.
But this family hasn’t always had the ability to enjoy life how they wanted to. In their previous apartment, everyday childhood moments became a source of stress. Neighbors frequently complained about their children playing and even called the police.
“How can I stop my kids from playing,” James recalled “but when we got this home, we have no more worries.”
Today, they can finally enjoy the simple moments that make a house feel like home. Their children play freely inside and outside, family and friends gather without worry, and visitors can park on the street without causing concern. They’ve also found a welcoming neighborhood where neighbors look out for one another. Before James and Anna purchased their own snow blower, their new neighbors happily helped clear their driveway from snowfall. Those small acts of kindness have made their house feel even more like home and things that once brought stress have been replaced with comfort, connection, and peace of mind.
The Power of Affordability
Habitat’s affordable mortgage has also given James and Anna the financial stability to continue investing in their home while planning for the future. Since moving in, they’ve replaced the carpet with durable laminate flooring, making cleanup much easier with four young children. They’ve decorated their walls, purchased new furniture, and are currently saving to add another bedroom and bathroom in the basement.
Perhaps even more importantly, they’re able to save for future home maintenance and set money aside for their children’s futures, opportunities that once felt out of reach.
“Since we moved in, nothing has broken. Habitat did a great job building it, and I love having a new house,” Anna explained. James added, “We’ve been able to save, so in 10 or 15 years, we can make repairs. There will always be something, so we have to save for our house and our kids.”
As our conversation came to a close, I remember watching James and Anna receive their keys, surrounded by loved ones and filled with anticipation for what was ahead. Nearly two years later, their once-empty house is now filled with family photos and toys. You can feel the memories that have taken place there. The uncertainty of those early days has turned into stability, peace of mind, and the freedom to dream about the future.
The biggest changes in life begin with taking a first uncertain step. For James and Anna, that step led to a stable future, one where they no longer have to move from place to place, where they can put down roots, and where their children can safely grow, play, and simply be kids. For me, it marked the beginning of witnessing stories like theirs, stories that remind me every day how affordable homeownership changes lives.
Taken from my phone on August 12, 2024, the day they received the keys to their home:
Written by: Hanna Aukerman, Marketing Coordinator, Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity