Kaitlyn and Nelson are a young couple who dreamed of raising their children in a home they could call their own. The rental housing market gave them few options, and pushed them into units that were unsafe and freezing in winter or far too small for their growing family of four.

They had been saving for years towards their own home and felt the finish line was near. But when the pandemic hit, home prices in Nova Scotia surged and their dream began to slip away. At the same time, Kaitlyn was expecting their second child — and with that joy came growing stress and uncertainty about their future.

“We kind of lost hope,” admits Kaitlyn, reflecting on the months of uncertainty and mounting barriers.

Everything changed when they were approved to buy a Habitat for Humanity home. The relief of having an affordable home with no downpayment and a mortgage geared to their income was overwhelming. “We were exuberant; a weight was lifted off of us,” Nelson shares. “We were so very grateful for the hand up we needed.”

A safe, secure home truly can change everything.

For Kaitlyn and Nelson, a home provides stability and peace of mind — a place to grow together.

Nelson, who grew up in social housing, remembers a childhood shaped by instability and having to grow up far too soon. That experience shaped his determination to create a different future — one where his children could grow up in a stable environment, free to focus on school and simply be kids.

After completing 500 partnership hours — working side by side with volunteers to help build their future — the family moved into their Habitat home in November 2022. Since then, they’ve celebrated countless milestones.

Kaitlyn and Nelson now watch with pride as their young son walks to the neighbourhood park and plays in their backyard. He’s just started a new school and is thriving. Their daughter took her first steps in their Habitat home. “My children won’t have to have the same pressure on life that I had,” Nelson says. “Now they can focus on school and actually be children.”

And with a quiet, dedicated space to study, Kaitlyn was able to complete a professional designation that now opens the door to long-term career growth. Kaitlyn and Nelson can now plan for the future. “We know what to expect and we’re able to budget. We don’t have to wonder every year how much our rent is going up. It’s just a better quality of life.”

“This is our home. It's where we spend family dinners and holidays. Where we play games and make memories. It means everything.”