Starting over, more than once
Mohammed and Tiba are originally from Iraq. In 2014, as safety conditions worsened, they fled the country and sought refuge in Turkey, where they lived for more than eight years. During that time, they were unable to work legally or plan for the future.
Life was uncertain and progress felt out of reach. In June 2022, the family was sponsored to Canada and resettled in Calgary. The transition was difficult but it marked a new beginning.
Within one week of arriving, Mohammed found work at the airport, “After one week, I got a job at the airport. I’m lucky.”
Both Mohammed and Tiba hold computer science engineering degrees from Iraq, but years of displacement meant their career paths shifted. Tiba later chose to work in education and is currently completing an Educational Assistance program, with her practicum scheduled for this spring.
Life in a small apartment
Today, the family lives in a second-floor apartment. While grateful for housing, the space has been challenging — especially with two children. Without outdoor space, shared laundry, and close neighbours, daily life requires constant compromise.
“You need to respect other people. Sometimes the kids want to play, and it’s hard.”
Finding Habitat and a way forward
Mohammed first learned about Habitat for Humanity while still living in Turkey, dreaming about the future and searching for a path to homeownership that aligned with his values. When they arrived in Canada, Habitat stood out as a realistic alternative to traditional mortgages, which felt unreachable on one income and without a down payment.
They applied once they became eligible — hopeful, committed, and ready.
Making an impossible decision
The family was first partnered with Habitat for a home in Airdrie. They were excited and grateful, ready to move forward. They started working on their volunteer hours, building their home and working alongside future neighbours.
But their family faced a serious challenge.
Their 10-year-old daughter attends a specialized school in Calgary that supports her educational needs. The family relies on school transportation to get her there safely each day. If they moved to Airdrie, that service would no longer be available.
“When they told me the school is not covered for that area, I asked if I could still bring my daughter here. They said no.”
Moving to Airdrie would mean losing access to the supports their daughter depends on.
With that, Mohammed and Tiba made the difficult decision to step back from the partnership, choosing their daughter’s care over the certainty of homeownership, “It was very tough to say that, but I’m looking out for my daughter.”
An unexpected second chance
Months later, Habitat reached out again. This time, a townhouse had become available in Livingston. It was close enough for their daughter to continue attending her school and using transportation services.
“After two months, they sent me an email and said, ‘We have a unit in Livingston.’”
The news came as a surprise, especially after having already stepped away once, “We were very happy.”
Building more than a house
As part of their partnership, Mohammed and Tiba are completing their volunteer hours on site, learning new construction skills alongside other Habitat families.
“Everything was new for us — insulation, drywall. It’s very different from the Middle East.”
Beyond the skills, the experience helped build connection. “We worked as a group with other families and we’ve made friends with our future neighbours.”
A home their children can grow into
Their children are especially excited about what comes next: their own bedrooms, stairs to climb, and a backyard for the first time.
For their four-year-old son, Adem, that space means something very specific: a bike.
In their current apartment, owning a bike hasn’t been possible. There’s nowhere to store it, no safe place for him to practice, and no outdoor space where learning to ride wouldn’t become a major effort.
Mohammed explained that Adem has asked for a bike before but it never made sense. Now, that’s changing.
When they move into their Habitat home, they plan to buy Adem his very first bike. Not only will they have space to store it — he’ll be able to learn to ride right in front of his home, in a safe neighbourhood, alongside other children who will soon be their neighbours.
Looking ahead
Homeownership is already changing how Mohammed and Tiba think about the future. Mohammed recently passed his Canadian citizenship exam, and the family hopes to one day travel so their children can meet relatives they have never seen.
“With a stable home, we can plan.”
What home means
For Mohammed and Tiba, home represents safety, stability, and peace of mind.
“Home means you feel safe. You feel stable.”
After years of uncertainty, moving countries, living as refugees, and navigating temporary housing, this home represents permanence.
For Mohammed and Tiba, home is finally a place to stay.
