For 20 years, Amir has worked hard and dreamed of the day he would own his own home.
Through life’s ups and downs, he has stayed resilient and is leading his family to what he describes as a “life-changing event.”
Amir worked in Toronto for eight years as a trained accountant. During Alberta’s boom, he got a good job in oil and gas and moved to Calgary. But the instability of the market in the years that followed led to instability in his career.
His wife was a dedicated homemaker and with his family on a single income, he knew he needed to make a change to provide financial security.
Amir pivoted to the insurance industry, while keeping his pulse on accounting by working as a part-time bookkeeper on the side. Most recently he transitioned into security, though he has dreams to return to the accounting field again where his true passion lies.
When asked to describe his son, “soccer” immediately popped into his head. Like many other eight-year-old boys, “He wants to be Ronaldo.”
His daughter has a different set of interests but is still just as passionate about them. She enjoys playing with dolls and watching cartoons to learn about makeup. At only five years old, she already “knows how to do everything so well.”
The family enjoys simple things – going to the playground, riding bikes, watching cricket and spending almost every other weekend at Calaway Park in the summer. The kids have gone on all the rides, just not the rollercoaster (yet).
"There must be stability"
When they’re back at home, they face numerous challenges. The family of four rents a small two-bedroom, one bathroom apartment in a part of the city that’s known for high crime rates.
They have a park right behind them, but the slides and swings remain empty due to scattered drug paraphernalia and broken glass.
Amir's family rents a small apartment in an unsafe neighbourhood. They dream of the day they will have a safe and stable home to call their own.
These conditions have impacted the kids’ social lives. They’re not comfortable having friends over because they don’t have space and the neighbourhood doesn’t feel safe.
The kids share a room, but Amir recognizes that this isn’t sustainable as they get older. The rent is unpredictable and continues to rise every year.
Having already moved three times, they have chosen to stay in these difficult circumstances to keep a sense of stability for their children.
“Moving is always terrible. We have moved to different homes. The kids are fed up by this moving. There must be stability. There must be stable things.”
- amir, future habitat homeowner in livingston
Grabbing an opportunity
While Amir and his wife have always worked to make the best of their situation, they have also consistently strived to make improvements.
With his background in finance, Amir knows the value of money and the benefit of having an asset to invest in.
They tried, but were unable to qualify for a bank mortgage. “Our income did not meet the criteria to buy a house on the market,” Amir explains. “So we want to grab this opportunity.”
That’s why Habitat’s unique affordable homeownership model was so appealing. The family wouldn't have to worry about saving tens of thousands of dollars for a down payment on a single salary.
With mortgage payments customized to their income, they would never have to worry about unpredictable rent increases again.
A dream come true
Amir gets emotional thinking about his kids’ reaction to the news that they would have their very own home for the very first time.
After taking a moment to collect himself, he says simply, “It’s a dream. It’s a dream come true.”
The family eagerly awaits the day they will have a safe and stable foundation. When they don’t have to worry about where their next move may be, they can pursue other aspirations.
The kids will have room to play and host friends, and Amir and his wife will have space, both physically and mentally, to continue their education.
Amir hopes to become a Chartered Professional Accountant. His wife has her master's degree and plans to continue her studies.
Although it’s several years away, both parents dream of saving and sending their kids off to university, with their Habitat home as the home base that they can always come back to.
Amir is also looking forward to building his own home through his family’s 500 volunteer hours, even though he knows it will be physically demanding.
“I want to learn construction and how the work is done,” he says with a big smile. “It’s comparatively difficult, but I love to work on the construction site.”
Amir is one of 24 families with more than 60 children who will call Livingston home.
Amir and his family know that it takes incredible community support to help make their dream of homeownership come true. When asked what he would say to a supporter if he had the chance, he found himself at a loss for words.
“This is a life-changing event. We cannot describe it. We don’t have words to describe it. We are very thankful to you. We salute you and your great efforts.”
After 20 years of working and dreaming, Amir’s dreams will finally turn into reality when his family takes possession of their Habitat home in Livingston in 2025.
“This is a very miraculous thing in our life. We have been trying for our own house since we moved to Canada. This is an excellent milestone in our life and a big achievement. You can say it’s a life-changing achievement.”
