For Margarita, home has always been a source of stability and hope for the future. After separating from her husband, she stepped into life as a single mom to two young boys. Amid the uncertainty, one priority was non‑negotiable: keeping life as steady as possible for her children.

With few housing options available on a single income, Margarita chose to stay in their rental home so her boys could remain in the same school, close to their friends and familiar routines — the anchors that matter most during times of change. Nearly all of her earnings went toward rent, leaving little room for anything else.

The pressure was constant.

“I had a lot of stress and anxiety,” Margarita recalls. “I didn’t know how I was going to make ends meet. I was in survivor mode.”

Despite the strain, Margarita never lost sight of her goal: providing stability and opportunity for her boys. That determination eventually led her to Habitat for Humanity Niagara’s Affordable Homeownership Program.

When she learned she had been approved several months later, the family was overjoyed. Margarita purchased her home with an affordable geared-to-income mortgage, and she and her sons moved in early 2025 — a pivotal turning point in their lives.

Today, Margarita and her boys are thriving. Her sons, now 10 and 12, were able to stay at their school and devote their free time to competitive soccer.  With less stress and the freedom to spend more time together, the family is closer than ever. They especially love movie nights, complete with lots of popcorn. 

For Margarita, the security of affordable homeownership has opened the door to new possibilities. With housing costs now about half of what they once were, she has the financial and mental space to pursue re-qualifying as a physiotherapist in Canada. Grateful for the opportunity she’s been given, Margarita hopes to pay it forward through her work and by inspiring others.

“I love being a physio. Being a healer is in my blood; my mum was a physio as well,” she says. “I want to build a strong career, and I dream about opening my own business in the future.”  “And I want to be an example to my children, to work hard and dream big. Everything is possible.”