Seeing Stephanie today, it’s hard to imagine the challenges she and her family faced just a few years ago — or the determination it took to rebuild their lives.

A full-time working mother, Stephanie is deeply committed to raising her two young daughters. But when her relationship ended, the stability she had worked so hard to build was suddenly at risk. Her single income couldn’t cover the rising cost of rent, and she found herself out of options.

With a years-long waitlist for social housing, Stephanie made the difficult decision to move her family into a shelter as a temporary solution while she tirelessly searched for something better. Even after finding a small rental, the stress remained; Stephanie knew the rent would continue to rise each year, eventually pushing it beyond her means.

“Without a home, everything else kind of crumbles. And that’s exactly what happened to us,” Stephanie recalls.

While searching online for housing options, Stephanie discovered Habitat for Humanity Hamilton’s Affordable Homeownership Program. Applying felt like a long shot, so when she received a call confirming her acceptance a year later, she was stunned. What once felt like a distant possibility was now real. Her partnership with Habitat meant safe and affordable homeownership was finally within reach.

After contributing 500 volunteer hours at her local Habitat ReStore, Stephanie and her daughters moved into their new Habitat home in early 2025, marking the start of a new chapter.

Stephanie now pays an affordable geared-to-income mortgage on a home that meets her family’s needs. The girls’ bedrooms are painted in their favourite shades of pink: a soft, gentle tone for one, and a bold, vibrant hue for the other. The choices reflect their personalities, and each room gives them space to grow.

With stability finally in place, Stephanie can now plan for the future in ways that weren’t possible before. “I’ll be able to put money aside for their post-secondary education,” she says. “This is the generational change that becoming a Habitat homeowner has made possible.”

Stephanie continues to pay it forward. She still volunteers at the ReStore and has become a housing advocate, helping others navigate their own housing challenges.

“My own experience has shown me just how important housing is … my life has changed drastically for the better and so have my children's lives. I’m beyond grateful.”

Meeting Stephanie today, you’d don’t see the crisis she and her family once faced — only the strength, stability and hope they’ve built since.