For years, Yonas lived in a small one-bedroom apartment in Denver. It was the only home he knew since moving from Eritrea, East Africa, 27 years ago. When his wife Shewit joined him in 2018, the space became even tighter. Their three children were born in the apartment, but it was not a good space for the family to grow.
“The apartment maintenance was not good,” Yonas explained. “It was not clean, and not suitable for raising kids.” Despite working hard—both Yonas and Shewit are employed at a local grocery store chain—the rising cost of rent and lack of space made it difficult to imagine a better future.
Yonas had a family member who bought a Habitat for Humanity home years ago, but he hadn’t thought about the program in a long time. That changed one Friday afternoon when he went to the library, determined to research housing options for his family. There, he met a Realtor who reminded him about Habitat’s homeownership program. That same day, Yonas filled out the paperwork to apply.
Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver’s homeownership program is designed to help families escape the cycle of rising rent prices and find lasting stability. As part of the program, Yonas attended classes on financial literacy and homeownership, and completed sweat equity hours—volunteering on build sites and contributing to the community that would soon become his own.
When the family learned about Habitat’s Mountain View Community Homes project in Aurora, they were so excited, since the homes were near their work and extended family. “I knew it was right,” Shewit said. “We kept driving by the house during construction, dreaming about when we would live here.”
They visited the site when only one duplex was complete, and their future home was still just a dirt lot. But they stayed hopeful, knowing what was ahead.
Today, Yonas and his family live in a spacious, welcoming home at Mountain View. “We are so happy here,” he said. “We finally have space and stability.”
Their children now have room to read and play in private, and the clean, safe environment is a major change from their previous apartment.
“We’re not just throwing money into rent anymore,” Yonas added. “This home is a long-term investment.”
Their journey is a testament to what’s possible when opportunity meets determination. Thanks to Habitat and the support of the community, Yonas, Shewit, Bdal, and Sessy have found not just a house—but a home.
“We finally have space and stability.”
– Yonas, Habitat Homeowner
