Homeownership through Habitat is all about empowerment. Habitat homeowners are able to break out of the month-to-month existence and lift their eyes to the future. And nothing heralds an empowered future like education.
“It was a bit chaotic,” Daijon, Rose’s oldest son, says of life before Habitat. “It was hard to actually live life and go to school and come home and do homework… coming here was a big weight lifted off my shoulders.”
Rose’s children weren’t the only ones to focus on their studies. After becoming a homeowner, Rose completed a long-sought college degree, one she worked toward through multiple moves as the family dodged unsafe environments and rent hikes. “I was able to have peace and space and actually set up a desk and actually get things done!” Rose says of life in her Habitat home.
Their first summer as a Habitat family, Rose and all three of her children celebrated graduations within a few days – her twins from elementary school, her oldest from junior high, and Rose from college. Now, her young ones tackle middle school, Daijon has his sights set on Stanford or UC Berkeley, and Rose is looking to further her education even more.
Our Social Impact Study shows that Rose’s family is not alone. A quiet place to study is the norm in a Habitat home. Like Rose, nearly 20% of Habitat homeowners have increased their level of education since moving in, and more families are putting away more savings toward education.
Join the Conversation
Leave Us a Comment!
We love hearing from our community. Let us know what you think by leaving us a comment below.