A Home Delivered through Faith and Community: Hiwot’s Path to Home Ownership
Owning a home represents not only the realization of a dream, but also a powerful testament to determination and faith, and nobody understands this better than Hiwot. Hiwot, an Ethiopian mother of four, came to the United States to provide better opportunities for her children and herself. The path to homeownership was far from easy, marked by challenges and uncertainties. However, with perseverance and support from the Central Valley Habitat for Humanity, she now stands in front of her new home—something she once thought was out of reach.
“There were times I wanted to give up,” she recalls. “[But] seeing the walls go up pushed me to keep going.” Each brick laid was a step closer to the life she envisioned for her family, filled with security and opportunity, and as the bricks climbed higher in the sky, creating her soon-to-be home, they became a reminder of how far Hiwot had come, and how with hope and support, even the most challenging goals are achievable.
With help from her sponsor Tesfome, a fellow Ethiopian and longtime supporter of Habitat, Hiwot’s home was finally finished, a feat that Tesfome, who shares a similar background to Hiwot, understands the significance of all too well. “For Hiwot, this is about giving her kids opportunities she didn’t have growing up,” Tesfome explains. Education, stability, and the chance to thrive are now within reach for her children, thanks to this new beginning.
The process wasn’t without its emotional toll. While Hiwot was building a future for her family in the U.S., her heart remained connected to Ethiopia, where conflict affected her loved ones. Balancing the weight of worries back home with the physical and emotional stress of pursuing homeownership was overwhelming at times, but Hiwot’s unwavering faith gave her strength to go on.
Now, standing proudly in her new home, Hiwot reflects on the journey with gratitude, recognizing the countless hands that made her dream possible. For her, this home is more than shelter—it’s a symbol of hope, a place where her family can grow, and a testament to the power of community.
