A letter from Future Homeowner Cindy
July 2020
Hello, my name is Cindy.
This year was supposed to be my comeback year. The year I did everything I set out to do. The year I was supposed to become a homeowner.
Last year, me and my two little girls lost EVERYTHING in a fire at our rental apartment. All we were left with was literally the clothes on our backs and my car. My landlord was eventually able to place us in a vacant apartment, but the conditions were not livable. There were no fire alarms installed, the floors needed extreme work, and for months there was no running hot water. With two toddlers who are constantly on the floor there was no way I could’ve had them here with those conditions. I had to send my girls to live with family while I tried to regain some of what we lost as well as make this space livable for us all.
By the grace of God and so many kindhearted people, clothes, food & furniture were donated to me and my girls. My ‘work family’ was a huge help and got me a lot of what the girls & I needed. After weeks of no response from the landlord, I took matters into my own hands, using my own funds to try and make where we are now comfortable and livable. Even still, the proper repairs have yet to be made. With all that I fell into some financial hardships, but God has been able to keep us afloat.
I heard about Habitat CFC through a close friend of mine. I was initially hesitant to fill out the application as I felt there’s no way I would qualify. After doing some research I decided to take a leap of faith and applied. After the fire I had to deplete my home savings and start again from square one. When I found out that I was accepted into Habitat’s program, it was my reassurance that prayers do work, things do get better, and dreams can still come true. I was so happy to be working towards our new home. I enjoyed getting my hands a little dirty, it made the process all more worth it.
Then Corona reared its ugly head. This has been something I could have never imagined. This virus came in and claimed so many lives as well as scared us all. Thankfully, I was able to work from home, be with my girls, and make sure that we are keeping safe. The one good thing that’s come out of this is the time I have gotten to spend with my family. Even with that upside, I can’t help having overwhelming feelings of doubt and sadness. Here I am again with another setback year. A year full of surprises and roadblocks.
Being able to move into my new home at the end of 2020 would have been a dream come true, but Corona forced us to stop working on future homes. Sites being closed also meant slowing down on completing my sweat equity hours. Everything’s at a standstill, and here I am 6 months into the year asking myself again what’s next.
Though my girls are small, they are excited to know that we are moving into our new home soon. We drive by the lot on Granfield Ave. every so often where the work has since stopped. I still point from the car and tell them, “That’s where we are going to live right there- it’s being built!” and to hear the joy in their voices makes my heart smile so much I can tear up. They are so excited, as am I, to have a place that we will be able to call our own. A place we can truly call “Home.”
Our Habitat home will be a fresh start for me and my two girls. This opportunity will jump start the foundation of our future. The fire turned our lives upside down, but this house is the light at the end of the tunnel. For me and my family, it shows how much hard work can pay off. I can show my girls what goals you can achieve when you challenge yourself to continually do your best. Buying a home with Habitat will change my life tremendously. I will be only the second person in my family to ever own a home.
I am looking forward to the day I can begin building memories with my girls in our new home and building relationships with my fellow Habitat neighbors. I’m on a better path of financial freedom and security and owning a home will only make me more responsible and accountable for every dime that’s spent. I’m truly honored & grateful for this opportunity and just wish and pray all this Corona stuff would go away so we can get back to building and get back to living our lives like we once were. I’m praying we all make it out of this trying time stronger and full of love for one another.
Stay Blessed & Stay Safe,
Cindy
Habitat CFC awarded $30,000 Wells Fargo Builds grant
NEWS RELEASE
Contact:
Caitlin Dalton
Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County
(203) 331-7736
cdalton@habitatcfc.org
Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County and Wells Fargo partner in Bridgeport, CT and across the country to help build affordable housing
BRIDGEPORT, CT (July 28, 2020) – Wells Fargo Foundation has awarded Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County a $30,000 grant to build two affordable homes in Bridgeport, CT. The funding is part of an $8.1 million donation to Habitat for Humanity International for capacity building and direct mission support to build, renovate and repair more than 350 affordable homes across the United States. The program, Wells Fargo Builds℠, is part of the Wells Fargo Foundation’s $1 billion philanthropic commitment to create more housing affordability solutions by 2025.
“We’ve had a rich history of working with Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County to strengthen our neighborhoods through philanthropy and volunteerism,” said Kimberly Chamberlain, Wells Fargo’s Fairfield North Regional District Manager. “Safe and stable housing enables people to build upon the rest of their life and, together, we can shift the narrative to help others understand that housing affordability is both an economic and humanitarian crisis that’s taking a toll on millions of people.”
Wells Fargo Builds provides philanthropic financial support from the Wells Fargo Foundation to support the construction, renovation, painting or repairing of homes with low-to-moderate income households. In 2019, Wells Fargo team members volunteered more than 1.9 million hours on 674 homes across the United States through the program.
“We are grateful for the continued support of Wells Fargo. This gift will help local families build the strength, stability, and self-reliance through affordable homeownership,” said Habitat CFC Director of Development, Kristen Alvanson. “Now more than ever, families need a safe and secure place to call home.”
The grant will support the construction of two Habitat homes at 28 Hastings Street and 171 Wessels Avenue. Janella Diaz and her husband are the future homeowners of 28 Hastings, and while their dreams of homeownership have been delayed by the pandemic, their faith remains unshaken. She says, “I believe that when you want something, you have to work for it. Habitat showed me that we’re stronger together, and that we can lift each other up. I can’t wait until we can buy our home! I drive by it every day and daydream about moving in. It’s not a mansion, but it has everything we need – a room for each of the kids and space for us to be comfortable and spend time together. It makes me so happy.”
About Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County
Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County builds communities and improves lives by eliminating substandard housing and creating affordable homeownership possibilities for families in Fairfield County. Habitat CFC has a proud thirty-four year history and well-earned reputation for success throughout the region. We are a developer with a commitment to “green” construction, a family service agency, non-profit financial institution, community advocate and provider of over 5,000 volunteer opportunities each year. Habitat CFC transforms abandoned properties into homes for tax paying, contributing community members. Since 1985 Habitat CFC has dedicated over 260 homes and has helped more than 1,000 family members in Fairfield County. Our success rate is well over 95%. Our ReStore, located in Stratford, accepts donations of furniture, appliances and building materials, and then resells them. The proceeds from the ReStore help the organization build more affordable housing in Coastal Fairfield County. For more information, visit habitatcfc.org.
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Habitat CFC taking measures to limit the spread of COVID-19
- As of March 17 at 4:00 pm, the ReStore will be closed. This includes donation drop-offs and pick-ups.
- In compliance with Governor Lamont’s order, our offices are closed to the public and all administrative office staff are working remotely.
- Build sites are now closed to ALL volunteers and homeowners working toward sweat equity.
- CANCELED – Dedication of 563 Stillman Avenue (originally scheduled for Saturday, March 21)
- CANCELED – Dedication of 25 Orange Street (originally scheduled for Saturday, April 4)
- CANCELED – Habitat CFC’s Annual Benefit – Back to the Future (originally scheduled for Saturday, April 25)
- CANCELED – Youth United’s Rock the Block (originally scheduled for Saturday, May 2)
- POSTPONED – Habitat CFC Women Build’s She Nailed It! (originally scheduled for Thursday, May 12)
- Habitat CFC will adhere to any recommendations provided by state and local government as well as the CDC.
- We will be making daily evaluations about whether any additional changes need to be implemented.
- If you have any questions, please contact info@habitatcfc.org.
CEO, Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County
Habitat CFC May 2019 E-News
Click here to read our May 2019 Newsletter.