Frequent moves and instability
Merhawi and Makda currently live in a two-bedroom townhouse in northeast Calgary with their three children. Elhana is in Grade 6 and loves to sing. Elnatan, eight years old, enjoys drawing. Elias, just two, is always moving, climbing, and exploring.
Elhana and Elnatan share a bedroom, while Elias sleeps with his parents. Privacy is limited, and routines are hard to maintain. Over the years, frequent moves have made it difficult for the children to feel settled.
“The kids really hate changing houses, creating new friends,” Merhawi says. “They need something that is permanent.”
That lack of stability affects more than just their living space.
“The instability makes it hard for my children to build lasting friendships and maintain strong connections at school and in the community,” he says.
When home doesn’t feel safe
Their current housing also comes with ongoing challenges. The heating system doesn’t work well, so the family uses portable heaters to keep the children’s room warm. Maintenance issues often go unresolved, and they hesitate to contact their landlord out of concern it could lead to higher rent.
There have also been moments that left them feeling unsafe. One night, while Merhawi was working a night shift, someone spent hours banging on their door. Makda was home alone at the time with two young children and a baby. Police were called, but the experience stayed with them and they knew they needed to find somewhere safer for their family.
Finding affordable homeownership
Merhawi first learned about Habitat’s affordable homeownership program through a friend at church. Daniel, a Habitat homeowner in Airdrie, recognized their situation and encouraged them to apply. Having someone guide them through the process made a meaningful difference.
“For middle income families like us, it is encouraging and is making homeownership possible,” Merhawi says.
Now partnered with Habitat, the family is working toward something different. The couple recently started their 500 volunteer hours. In addition to the construction site and ReStore, they will also attend budgeting and homeowner preparedness courses as part of their hours.
Makda has started volunteering at the ReStore, where she’s learning new skills and building relationships, even connecting with their future neighbours. Merhawi is eager to volunteer on the construction site, curious to learn but also excited to be part of building his future community.
A future in the making
For now, they focus on simple moments together. Trips to the park, indoor playgrounds, or walking through the mall. On Sundays, they gather for traditional coffee after church.
The kids are currently in swimming lessons, and they’re already looking ahead to what life could look like in Chestermere. Living near the lake is something they talk about often. Makda laughs when she imagines just how much time they’ll spend in the water.
For this family of five, an affordable Habitat home will mean more than extra bedrooms.
It means a stable, affordable mortgage they can rely on and the chance to put down roots and plan for what comes next, without the worry of rising rent or unexpected moves.
It means finally investing in their own home and future, not someone else’s.
