Rowena and Justin
Make a difference now
Rowena and Son Find Hope and a Home
For young families in the Greater Vancouver area, finding a safe and affordable home is a challenge that can often feel insurmountable. This was the case for Rowena and her son Justin (nine years old at the time), who were living in a mouldy, vermin-infested apartment in 2018. Rowena was deeply concerned for the safety of her and her son, but also felt unable to relocate as rent prices were out of range for her on a single-household income.
An Open Door of Hope
In April 2018, Rowena and her coworkers decided to volunteer at a Habitat for Humanity build project in Richmond. While she was volunteering, she learned more about the work being done here at Habitat and found herself inspired. Rowena realized that a Habitat home might actually be the answer she’d been searching for.
“Something just really clicked in my brain, and I just knew that I had to apply.”
It took some time, but after completing the application and going through the interview process, she was accepted as a partner family. Rowena was overjoyed. Her dream of a safe and affordable home had come true at long last. She received the keys to a beautiful two-bedroom suite in one of the Habitat for Humanity houses she herself had helped build! Filled with gratitude, Rowena and Justin eagerly embraced their new beginning. Their move-in date was set for July 1, and they were one of five families to receive a home on the site.
“I think, especially for single mothers out there who have hit a dead end or a wall, there is hope,” Rowena said of the experience.