For Muhammad and Iqra, every decision they make comes back to one thing: building a better future for their children. Zaviyar (6) and Zarnish (3) are growing up fast, and their parents want to give them more than just a house—they want to give them stability, community, and a place to truly call home.
These parents have worked tirelessly to build a better life for their kids. Muhammad juggles full-time work with completing a diploma in Supply Chain Management, while Iqra balances part-time work as a healthcare aide with finishing her studies to become a Licensed Practical Nurse.
Through it all, their goal has remained the same: to give their children the stability they never had growing up.
Four applications, one big dream
Getting to this moment wasn’t easy.
Muhammad and Iqra applied to Habitat’s homeownership program four times, taking each piece of feedback from Habitat staff and making the necessary changes before trying again. Their perseverance finally paid off in 2024 when they were approved to purchase an affordable home in Airdrie.
"You know what? No matter how many times we get refused or rejected, we'll keep applying. One day we might. There's a hope."
Why homeownership matters
For years, Muhammad and Iqra lived with Iqra’s parents, sharing a single bedroom with their children. As their kids grew, space became more of a challenge, so they moved into a rental nearby to give their family a little more room while staying close to their support system.
But even with this change, they knew renting wasn’t a long-term solution.
“The rental increases every year are hard to deal with,” Muhammad explained. “If we owned our home, the money would go toward our own future. We wouldn’t have to worry about being asked to leave or unpredictable rent. It would feel like a huge accomplishment—something to be proud of.”
Every decision and dream that Muhammad and Iqra make for the future is centered around what is best for Zaviyar (6) and Zarnish (3).
More than affordability, this home means giving their children a childhood built in one place.
“When I was growing up too, there were six siblings, and my mom, she did not own any homes. My dad didn’t have an education and struggled a lot to provide for us,” Iqra shared.
“We rented houses and moved around a lot. The memories we made as children, as teenagers, we left all of that behind. Now, when we go back to those areas, we don’t have those same connections.
It’s so meaningful to have those memories in one place instead of scattered everywhere. We are just thinking about our kids’ future.”
More than a house
For Muhammad and Iqra, homeownership isn’t just about having a place to live—it’s about being part of something bigger.
“[Habitat] is like this little piece of magic where you have all these relationships form of people who were strangers now being neighbours, working together, but then also not just like, oh, you got a mortgage from TD and you got a mortgage from BMO. It's kind of just like this little extra community.”
This sense of connection is something they’ve longed for. They want their kids to grow up in a neighbourhood where friendships last, where familiar faces surround them, and where they can finally feel at home.
A home for their future
Muhammad and Iqra are already thinking about what’s next.
“Having a whole house? It just feels like an accomplishment. It’s something huge. Over the years, you work so hard for it, and it’s a big investment.”
They have big plans for their home and their kids have dreams too—Zaviyar wants a dog, and Zarnish has her heart set on a cat or bunny. For now, Mom and Dad say, “They have their stuffed animals and that will do just fine for now.”
Muhammad and Iqra are looking forward to giving their kids a home and a community to make childhood memories in.
But most of all, this home is about giving their family the security they’ve been working toward for so long.
“You have lived your life. Just make it easier. Things are not going to get easier. They're getting harder and everything's expensive. So we are just thinking about their future.”
After years of hard work, determination, and hope, Muhammad and Iqra’s dream of homeownership is finally coming true. And with it, they’re giving their children the greatest gift of all—a place to belong.