Living in limbo
“I’m not someone who’s ever been careless with my money,” Shelley explained. “I’ve just fallen onto hard circumstances. And when you’re raising a child on your own, there isn’t much room for mistakes.”
Today, Shelley and William share a small condo in Airdrie—just 800 square feet with no backyard and no safe space to play. “If William wants to go outside, I have to go with him,” she said. “There’s a pond, a parking lot, and no playground nearby. It’s restricting.”
Even simple things, like riding a bike, have become complicated. Bikes aren’t allowed on the balcony, and there’s no room inside. William keeps his at his dad’s house. Shelley’s bike is in storage and hasn’t been ridden in two years.
When her last rental was sold, Shelley came within weeks of putting her belongings in storage and moving into a hotel. “You feel like you’re just constantly clawing against a market that doesn’t care about you,” she remembered.
The long road to Habitat
Shelley first learned about Habitat while working downtown Calgary. At the time, her income was slightly above the eligibility threshold. But when her job situation changed, she tried again—this time determined to stay in Airdrie.
“Since moving to the community seven years ago from the East Coast, it has become our home. We feel safe there, and it’s just the right size city for us. It’s not too big and busy, but it’s not too small and restricting either. Plus William’s dad also lives in Airdrie so that was also an important deciding factor.”
Her hardwork and persistence paid off. In August 2024, Shelley got the call she had been hoping for: she and William were accepted into Habitat’s program.
“I thought we’d be stuck in that apartment forever. It felt surreal,” she said. “The process is long. It’s an emotional marathon. But to finally know we’d have a permanent home, especially as a single mom—it meant everything. This time, my moving boxes will finally go out with the trash.”
Building a future
Now, Shelley is focused on what life will look like once they move in. A third bedroom will finally give her space for a home office—a game changer after years of commuting 92 kilometres a day.
“I’ll be able to look for remote work,” she said. “I can be there when William gets on the bus in the morning and when he comes home in the afternoon. I’ll save on gas, on parking. On everything. That’s quality of life.”
For William, the new home will mean independence and belonging. At 12, he’s ready to meet kids in the neighbourhood, ride his bike along the canal paths, and grow up in a community where he feels connected.
And there’s the dog they’ve both been waiting for. “We’d love to have a dog, and when we get our house, we will,” Shelley said with a smile. She’s already been in touch with a breeder. “It’s those little things—walking the dog at night, sitting in the backyard—that make it feel like a real home.”
Financially, the change is just as important. Today, Shelley pays more in rent than her future mortgage and property taxes will cost combined. She also carries the extra burden of a storage locker, an expense she’ll finally be able to eliminate.
“That money goes right back into my budget,” she explained. “Habitat’s model makes it affordable. That’s what makes this possible.”
For Shelley, their home isn’t only about today. It’s about creating a foundation for the years ahead. “He won’t ever have to struggle or wonder where he’s going to live. That gives me peace.”
A mother’s determination
Shelley’s journey hasn’t been easy. From nearly facing homelessness to balancing full-time work with volunteer hours, she’s faced every challenge with determination. “If you want it bad enough, it’s there,” she said. “When I put my mind to something, I find a way to make it happen.”
For Shelley, homeownership isn’t just a milestone. It’s the result of years of persistence, sacrifice, and love for her son. And it’s the beginning of a stable, hopeful future they can finally call their own.
