When Ceu and Amang became parents, they had one dream: to provide their children with opportunities they never had. But finding a safe, affordable home to build this foundation from seemed impossible.

The family previously lived in a cramped, one-bedroom apartment in an unsafe building and neighbourhood, rife with drug use and violence. It made their living conditions challenging. “Living in that building was emotionally draining. We didn't feel safe letting our children go out and play,” says Amang.

With daycare costs far beyond their budget, Amang stayed home with their two young boys while continuing her studies. Ceu worked full-time to support the family, and together they faced limited options — but they remained committed to securing stable housing and a better home for their children.

Their lives began to change the day Amang’s mother told them about Habitat for Humanity. Approved for Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa’s affordable homeownership program in 2022, Ceu and Amang got to work on completing their 500 partnership hours. They volunteered on the build site and at their local Habitat ReStore, and two years later became Habitat homeowners with a no downpayment, affordable geared-to-income mortgage.

Since moving into their Habitat home in 2024, Ceu and Amang’s lives have taken a transformative turn — not just in terms of housing, but in how they see the future. It’s a place where their boys can play outside safely and finally be children. Now with bedrooms of their own, both have space to focus on schoolwork and the quiet they need to thrive academically.

Education is at the heart of the family’s hopes. With the stability of homeownership, Ceu and Amang are building a future where their children can pursue post-secondary education without the burden of housing insecurity or financial stress. They’ve already started saving for it — something that once felt out of reach.

“I had a single mom who worked four part-time jobs just to pay the rent. So, when I went to university, I had to work at the same time, and it was so stressful,” continues Amang. “Now we can support our kids so they can just focus on learning.”

And once Amang finishes her own education? She plans on returning to the workforce so that Ceu can pursue his dream of becoming a certified electrician.

“Now, I don’t think twice about saying yes to my two sons when they want to go out and play with the neighbourhood kids. We no longer have the anxiety of living paycheque to paycheque, and uncertainty of the future. We have more time and energy to give back and volunteer every Saturday and Sunday in our community. My husband and I can also now focus on building our careers. There are so many possibilities that can now become a reality thanks to our Habitat home.”