Interview with a soon-to-be Habitat Homeowner

Hard at work completing sweat equity hours

Why does affordable housing matter? On a larger scale, it is a huge crisis in our country affecting millions of people in every state. On a smaller scale, it matters because hard-working people like Michelle, a soon-to-be Habitat homeowner, deserve an affordable place to live to provide security and stability for themselves and their children.

I work for Habitat for Humanity Flathead Valley, and last weekend I caught up with one of our family partners on the build site to hear her side of the story. Michelle is a 27-year old single mother who works as an administrative assistant for Red Lion Hotel. Her 4-year old son, Johnny, likes the movie Cars and the color blue. Here’s what she had to say:

How did you hear about Habitat?

My best friend is a Habitat homeowner and encouraged me to apply for the program.

Had you been hoping to buy a home before you partnered with Habitat?

Oh yeah. It’s pretty much been a goal my whole life. I couldn’t find a home that I could afford, even with splitting the mortgage payments with my grandparents. The houses that were in my range were total crap and I couldn’t afford to fix them up. So I gave up on that.

Why do you think home ownership is important?

I want to own a home because it gives my son a future and stability. And it’s mine. I can do whatever I want with it.

What was your living situation like before Habitat and how will that change?

I lived in a subsidized housing apartment complex with really strict rules. Nobody gets together and I don’t know any of the neighbors. Here I’ll have neighbors to get together with. Johnny will have friends to play with.

What will this change mean for you financially?

The financial difference is huge. I’ll be paying $488 for mortgage instead of $605 renting and I won’t have to pay gas or renter’s insurance, and I’ll have better heating at $17-$23 a month. I’ll actually be able to start saving. Now my tax returns go to Johnny's clothes and fun things, but I’ll have more savings for the things he likes to do like monster trucks and going to Fun Zone.

Michelle's new neighborhood in Columbia Falls.

What is Johnny most excited about for your new home?

He keeps talking about how it’s his. Every time he sees a picture he’s like “Mommy that’s my room.” He already picked out wall decals from the movie Cars. He’s ecstatic about it.

What are you most excited about?

To own it and for it to be mine. To be here in Columbia Falls instead of Kalispell. There’s more community, not feeling like an outsider.

What’s the first thing you’re going to do once you move in?

Put up shelving in the bathroom. I literally have them waiting to be cut and hung up.

What’s been the most difficult thing about being a Habitat family partner?

For me, the pressure because of the deadline. My sweat equity hours and payments had to be done in less time, so I’m taking off time from work on Wednesdays to get my hours in and I’m out here every Saturday.

What’s been the most rewarding thing?

Getting to meet the different volunteers – the NCCC crew, the regulars that come out.

It’s taken 100s of volunteer 1000s of hours to build your house. What do you think of that?

I think it’s awesome but also nerve-wracking if they don’t know what they’re doing. I’m such a control person. I see them painting the walls and think if they don’t have a steady hand they’re going to get paint on my cabinets. It’s stressful but worth it in the end.

Do you feel like you’ve learned anything from putting in sweat equity hours on the build site?

I feel like I’ve learned a lot outside – siding, foaming, insulation. Inside I’ve done flooring and painting. I’m going to keep this house so clean.