For Ma Sheena, Erwin, Arkin, and Sara, home has always meant more than four walls. It means stability, belonging and having a place where their family can build a future together. The family spends whatever time they can find together including movie nights at home and driving around town, including past their future home.
Originally from the Philippines, Ma Sheena moved to Canada in 2007, followed by Erwin in 2012. Before making the move to Canada, Erwin spent two and a half years working in Abu Dhabi, gaining valuable work experience and preparing for the next chapter of his life. He has recently graduated with an IT diploma and is looking for work in his field. He currently works two jobs to help cover costs for his family.
Today, the family lives in the same neighbourhood where their affordable Habitat for Humanity home is being built. It is a community they know and love — one where their children have grown up and where the family has established connections and a sense of belonging.
Their current rental home gives the family plenty of space, but that space comes at a significant cost. A large portion of their monthly income goes toward rent, leaving less room for the family to save and plan for the future. Both parents would rather be paying their rental amount towards a mortgage and a better future for their children.
Over the years, Ma Sheena and Erwin have tried to find more affordable places to live. While they were sometimes able to find rentals that were easier on their budget, those homes did not provide the stability they were looking for. Landlords would sell the property or increase the rent, forcing the family to move again.
A future with opportunity
For Ma Sheena and Erwin, the idea of owning a home represents an opportunity to finally put down roots.
When the family reflect on the day they were approved to buy their home through Habitat for Humanity, you can see the load on their shoulders lighten.
“Everything just fell into place when we got that phone call. It’s just a feeling of relief and at the same time, you’re excited.”
Every night the family talks about their future. They discuss employment opportunities, how they can save, and what they hope to accomplish together.
Erwin dreams about starting his own company, where he can work as much as he can without needing a second job. They imagine what it will be like to have a home that belongs to them, a place where they can make decisions about their space and decorate it in a way that reflects their family.
We will be the very first people to step inside, cook in the kitchen, play in the backyard, and eventually lay down to sleep there. We often think about how Erwin and I hope to grow old in that house, while our kids grow up there. It will be our first home, and we hope it will be the home where we stay as we grow old and our children grow up.
For Arkin and Sara, it will mean growing up in a home that feels permanent. For Ma Sheena and Erwin, it means having a stronger foundation to continue working toward their family’s goals. It also means added stability, with the family moving from their corner unit to a quieter street where the kids can ride their bikes and play farther from unsafe traffic.
Building their future
And there is something particularly meaningful about the fact that their Habitat home will be in the same neighbourhood they already call home. They won’t have to leave behind the community they know. Instead, they will have the stability and security of a home of their own.
For this family, homeownership isn’t simply about having a place to live. It’s about building a future together, one that offers more stability, more choice and more freedom.
A future where the family can come home, close the door behind them, and know that they are home.
