A fresh start for Ana and her historic home
When Ana moved to Denver in 2019, she was searching for more than just a place to live—she was looking for a community. Raised in Los Angeles by her Argentinian parents, Ana felt an immediate connection to Denver’s Elyria neighborhood, a historically immigrant community established in the 1880s.
In 2020, Ana purchased her dream home—a charming, albeit aging, house built in 1895 in the middle of the vibrant Elyria community. While the home represented a significant piece of Denver’s history – and a significant step forward for Ana – it was a daunting challenge to maintain.
The house was in rough shape when Ana bought it, and despite her best efforts to care for it, making essential repairs was financially out of reach. With no insulation and all original features, the home was unbearably cold in the winter and scorching hot in the summer.
Ana’s connection to the community deepened when she began working for the Globeville-Elyria-Swansea (GES) Coalition.
“We organize neighbors around health and housing justice,” Ana shared. “I’m so happy to be living in the neighborhood that I work in.”
Ana’s journey took a positive turn when a neighbor from Globeville introduced her to Habitat Metro Denver’s Home Repair Program. Ana was grateful for the program’s existence – without it, her home would still resemble the abandoned house down the block. Instead, her home now stands refreshed, insulated, and secure, allowing her to contribute positively to the neighborhood.
Habitat’s repairs to Ana’s home were extensive and transformative. Habitat staff and volunteers installed quarter-inch insulating boards, new siding, and new windows, and painted all the siding—with Ana picking out the colors she loved. Habitat also addressed critical issues with the roof, flashing, and gutters, and trimmed back overhanging trees that had been causing damage. These changes were life-changing, making the house livable year-round.
“My bedroom is insanely better,” Ana shared. “It used to be super hot in the summer and freezing in the winter, and this winter it’s been super enjoyable. I don’t have to constantly run my space heater and rack up my electric bill.”
Looking ahead, Ana is committed to ensuring her home continues to serve the community. While she never wants to leave, if circumstances change, she hopes to pass the home on to neighbors, especially those displaced from the community who wish to stay. Her dream is to sell it to the Community Land Trust. Without children of her own, Ana envisions the house going to a neighbor, or, if that’s not possible, becoming a museum to preserve the neighborhood’s history.
Beyond her personal experience, Ana emphasized the broader impact of Habitat’s work. The program has not only uplifted her confidence but also positively influenced how her neighbors feel about the neighborhood.
“I get compliments all the time about how much nicer and fresher my home looks. And these are changes I never would have been able to afford it on my own,” Ana said.
Ana’s story also highlights the challenges and resilience of her neighborhood. Elyria faces rapid changes, surrounded by industrial and commercial areas, with land often speculated on by external developers. This encroachment has led to parts of the neighborhood being knocked down or developed without community input, causing some residents to lose faith in the future of their community.
However, Ana remains hopeful about the power of community action. She has seen positive changes when neighbors come together to have a voice in these developments. Affordable housing projects like the Linea Apartments and homes in the Tierra Colectiva and Habitat for Humanity community have been sold affordably to neighbors, helping to preserve the community’s fabric.
Ana hopes these efforts continue, reflecting the neighborhood’s strength and unity. “Good changes happen when neighbors have been able to get together. We’ve had more of a voice in these conversations,” she said.
“I get compliments all the time about how much nicer and fresher my home looks.”
– Ana Habitat home repair
