Habitat World Online


Homeowner Teresa Enyeart moved into her new Habitat house last year in Valdosta, Ga., leaving behind the cramped quarters she and her two children previously experienced.

Voices of Habitat Homeowners:
What 'Home' Means

When it comes to describing what it means to live in a Habitat house, no one can tell the story better than the experts: Habitat homeowners themselves. While there are tens of thousands who could tell their stories, here are the thoughts of just a few.


	In 2002, the Connor family moved into their Habitat house. Pictured are Danielle (holding Andrea), Jessica, Kevin and Julieanne.

Danielle Connor, Braintree, Mass., U.S.A.
"The impact that a home makes reaches far beyond just a place to lay your head at night. When you don't have a home, the small problems we all face on a day-to-day basis become magnified. Being without a home makes your whole life seem off course. ... Being associated with Habitat for Humanity is a huge experience for us. Instead of being excluded, we were welcomed into a group of wonderful human beings who cared very sincerely about us. ... We could hold our heads up knowing that, in just a few short months as our [Habitat] home was being built, our hearts were being healed. Habitat allowed us to feel secure again, secure in the fact that we were wanted. Secure in the fact that not just someone, but a whole group of people, trusted that we were the right family for that home. Secure in the fact that we would once again be together as a family.

"Today, I watch the girls run through the house to see who gets to the phone first. I hear loud music playing down the hall. I see Andrea's toys strewn throughout the house. I hear the buzz of the saw in the basement. The kids' friends are always here, and the TV is always on. These things sound like the ranting of a mother who's had it, but to be honest, it's music to my ears. There is nothing like it. Nothing compares to the warmth felt in your heart when you know you're home, finally home."


SaraySánchez Ponnas is pictured here in San Ramon, Costa Rica, with children Edwin Josue Gonzalez, 12, and Emmanual Gonzalez, 4.

Saray Sánchez Ponnas, San Ramon, Costa Rica
"One day my mother called me to tell me she was going to divide her property and give me a [tract of land]. ... The land was muddy, there was a lot of water and it was on a hill, but we thanked God.

We got second-hand materials, old corrugated sheets, wood and other things, and we gave ourselves to the task of building a little shack of about 12' x 9' with an earthen floor. Our first problem was with fleas. There wasn't electricity or drinking water. ... The nights were so cold. ... We used a jar to shower and used my parents' bathroom. ... The affliction of seeing my children trembling, full of mud and constantly crying to use the facilities was horrible. ... My children were very afraid of the rain and the wind, because it seemed that it would literally destroy the little shack.

"There were eight years of living under these conditions. ... One day one of my husband's co-workers came to visit us and when seeing our condition, he got scared. After sitting down, he told us he was building with Habitat for Humanity. ... It seemed incredible and even strange to hear of an organization that didn't request money up front, that didn't charge interest and that used all the money for materials. ...

"My children kept wondering, 'Mommy, is it true that we will have a bed each? That we will have a bathroom and a toilet? That we will have a cement house? That we will be able to bring our friends over?' ... My children no longer fear the night, the rain or the wind, and they no longer spend as much time sick; they no longer feel humiliated when a friend comes over. Before, we all slept together, and now each person has their own bed and they enjoy each moment playing in and sharing our home. ...

"Today, when I listen to the strong wind, the torrential rain and the cold that we felt, I cry. My heart is broken and I pray to God for people that live under the conditions that we lived under previously. I think I am lucky to have a worthy roof over my head."

Kim Burgess, Lebanon, Mo., U.S.A.
"We are so happy to have our home and so much appreciate all the men and women who have made it possible for us to have affordable and decent housing. We get up every morning and look around and remember all the wonderful people who volunteered to help us to have a decent home to raise our family. I hope to see a lot more homes go up in our area. I am so looking forward to seeing the next recipients' faces as they walk through their door for the first time. It is such a wonderful feeling of comfort and peace. Thank you, Habitat. You have made a lot of lives brighter when they have felt like there isn't any hope."


	The Grogg family has found community and a sense of accomplishment in their Habitat home.

Keith Grogg, 15, Santa Fe, N.M., U.S.A.
"My favorite thing about my mom owning a home is the sense of family and community that goes along with it. Owning a home has given my mother freedom from rent and a sense of immense accomplishment. My sister and I have a place where we can do things we could not do in a rented house. My sister and I can play outside and I can take walks and design my room whatever way I please. Owning a home has been an accomplishment for all of my family and is constantly a point of pride in all our hearts. The sense of community when you own your own home, especially in my experience with Santa Fe HFH, is tremendous. My neighbors are all wonderful, caring people who are always willing to help if you need a favor. Habitat is one big community where people help, respect and appreciate each other. ... Habitat for Humanity has been a positive thing in my life and a positive thing in the lives of the people of the community."


Lisa Merriweather says that through Habitat she has "turned a house into a home" for herself and her son.

Lisa Merriweather, Wichita, Kan., U.S.A.
"I am a blessed homeowner thanks to Habitat for Humanity. ... I went to Habitat to fill out an application and prayed to God to bless me with a home for my son and me. For 10 years off and on, I never had a place that I could call home, until I got that phone call from Habitat. ... I know that if you want something you never had, you have to do something you've never done. I turned my focus and life around and trusted God to make my dreams come true. Today, I thank God for my new home. To see people in my community come together to help me build my home was so beautiful. Now I have a new family with Habitat. I don't just have a house, now I have a home. ... People need to know that they too can be blessed by Habitat and become a homeowner. My faith has increased, I have hope and I feel like I'm a part of the 'American dream' through partnership with Habitat. I am now married, attend college and am a substance abuse counselor. God bless you all."