Allison knows what it means to keep going, even when the road feels impossible. As a single mom raising a teenager and a new baby, her days are full — school runs, late nights, and the constant weight of making sure her children have what they need. “Raising my kids has been a big job,” she says, “but I have to give it my all to make sure we have a roof over our heads and some stability.”
Before Habitat, that roof was a cramped two-bedroom townhouse. It worked — barely — until Allison learned she was expecting her second child. Suddenly the walls felt like they were closing in. “I panicked,” she remembers. “It was expensive just to think about moving to a bigger place, let alone actually doing it while pregnant and working.”
Homeownership always felt like something out of reach. She watched friends — some who were new to Canada — buy homes within a few years, while she was stuck renting. “I felt ashamed,” Allison admits. “I was born here, working hard, paying my bills, but I could never seem to get ahead.”
When a friend and her cousin both suggested Habitat, Allison hesitated only for a moment before applying. “I told myself I wouldn’t let this opportunity pass me,” she says. The process wasn’t easy — there were anxious nights and a lot of paperwork — but there was also support. She remembers one staff member in particular who patiently answered every question. “She was God-sent. I prayed for the house I wanted, and I didn’t give up.”
The day she was approved is etched in her memory. Allison and her daughter cried and laughed together. “I told her I wouldn’t give up until we got it — and we did. It felt unreal.”
Now, life looks different. Each child has their own room. There’s space to cook in the open kitchen, room for Allison’s family to visit from out of town, and a safe neighbourhood to grow roots in. Her daughter has even started volunteering at ReStore, learning new skills and discovering the joy of giving back.
For Allison, the word that comes to mind most often is grateful. “This isn’t just a house. It’s where my kids can grow, where we can feel safe, happy, and hopeful. It’s where we belong.”
And to the volunteers, donors, and partners who helped build her home, Allison has a simple message: “Thank you, and may God richly bless you.”
