After moving 10 times in 10 years, Kateryna will have a stable home

My name is Kateryna and I have a seven-year-old daughter named Erika.

Just over one year ago, I found Habitat for Humanity. It was by accident, I would say. My friend sent me a link and I found this organization that helps families like mine buy a home of their own.

When I applied, I had very low expectations that our family would be chosen.

However, dreams become reality.

I still cannot believe that we will finally have a place we can call “home” that gives a sense of stability after all that has happened to our family.

I went to different banks. I explored so many options to buy a place to live because I know that stability is very important for children.

I sacrificed time with my daughter because I had to work so hard. That’s why our Habitat home is a dream come true.

I am so grateful that donors like you can make this huge change for families. We are trying so hard. We just need a little bit of a push to make even more in this life. 

I’m originally from Ukraine. I got my master's degree from the University of Saskatchewan, and then I came to Alberta.

I moved 10 times in 10 years. It’s been a hectic journey. Whenever I rented a place, my landlords sold their properties or decided to live in them. Rental companies increased prices, or the units had major issues, like no heat in the winter.

I was working three jobs with the goal of buying a little place that I could call home.

However, no matter how hard I worked, the housing prices and rent increased faster than anyone could have predicted.

My dream of owning my home faded away. I rented a tiny one-bedroom apartment with my little daughter.

Then two years ago, I heard some horrible news about the war in my beautiful country. I rushed to bring my parents to Canada for their safety. Once they arrived, we faced another problem with housing.

We couldn’t afford a house on my single income, and our one-bedroom apartment was too small for all of us.

That’s why this Habitat home is a huge step for us.

We are extremely grateful for this opportunity. Donors like you are truly incredible, and the impact you are having on our family is immense.   

Erika didn’t believe she would have her own room until she saw it. She tells me how she will have a place for her books and a desk where she can do her homework.

This is going to be a new chapter for her life. There are so many opportunities for her and I think she will thrive.

I want donors to know how much they are helping families. It seems like just one piece, only housing, but it's actually a huge necessity.

It's like your food, your clothing and your health. Without a house, you cannot move forward in life.

As a donor, you are really doing a lot for families because, especially with kids, you cannot move around. You have to give stability to your children. It’s huge.

Thank you for supporting Habitat for Humanity and helping more families like mine.