“Before becoming homeowners through Habitat, we were long-term renters in Monroe. Our family of five lived in a three-bedroom townhome, which worked when our kids were younger, but as they grew—and as we welcomed two more babies—we knew we needed more space. We looked at houses within our budget, but they were too small, and the process quickly became overwhelming and discouraging. A neighbor, who had a Habitat home, first told us about the program, and while I had always followed Habitat Monroe on Facebook, I never thought we would qualify. Eventually, we decided to take a chance and apply. At the time, I was a student and a waitress, and Zachary worked in the trades doing siding, so finding time for volunteer hours and childcare felt like a challenge. But we committed and took it one day at a time. Now, as homeowners, our favorite part is having space to call our own without the tight quarters of a townhome. More than that, it’s the incredible sense of accomplishment in knowing that we helped build a safe and stable home for our family from the ground up. Our best advice for anyone considering the program? Just go for it! You might not think you qualify or have the time, but if you take it step by step, it’s absolutely worth it.”– Family Partners, Zachary & MaKayla