A glimpse into Neima’s everyday life as a single mother
Future Habitat homeowner Neima is stuck in traffic on her way home from work, so her children answer my Zoom call. She is working as a Personal Health Care Assistant to provide for her two children as a single mother. As she battles rush hour to get home for our call, I chat with her 16-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter, making small talk as they do chores and homework after getting home from school. As I sit watching from a screen and camera on their counter or table, they chat about their day, make snacks, and get ready to do homework: two ordinary teenagers.
A strong family bond built on care and resilience
Neima rushes in and apologizes profusely for her lateness, it’s not an issue but shows me right away how considerate Neima is for others (along with her profession). It is evident right away how she smiles and laughs with her children that they are very close, as well.
The reality of unsafe and unstable housing
The family is very familiar with their current accommodations, having lived under the same roof for the past 18 years. In that same amount of time, a mortgage could have almost been paid off, instead Neima has been paying her landlord. The unit is so inexpensive due to the constant pest issues: bed bugs, cockroaches, mice, and an unsafe community. The family is always itchy from bites and constantly have headaches from unknown substance smoke coming from the alley below. The only positive other than the cheap rent is how handy Neima is getting at fixing things around the home since the landlord is so unresponsive.
From newcomer to achieving the Canadian dream
Neima’s story is like many first-generation Canadians, coming to Canada with the dreams of gaining an education, learning English, and working hard to provide a better future for their children. After years of hard work, Neima has achieved her dreams: her English is perfect, she has a great job that she enjoys, and soon she will be a Habitat homeowner – the Canadian dream.
The life-changing call that meant everything
Reflecting on the call from Habitat telling her that she would be purchasing her home and changing the future of her family:
“That was the happiest moment of my life. It was so good. I couldn’t believe it. I got accepted. So, we are all happy about it. A dream comes true.”
Looking ahead to a safe and stable future
The entire family is already thinking forward to the day they move into their own home, a place to decorate, make cozy, and, after so long, feel safe and comfortable under their own roof.
Building long-term stability through affordable homeownership
Thanks to Neima’s hard work and dedication to her children, she is now able to look forward to a future with an affordable mortgage where she can plan and save for the future of her and her children.
