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In June of 1999 Hassan Haydar left his war-torn native land of Hudur, Somalia for the opportunity to live in what he calls “a place of peace.” He set out alone leaving his wife Sahra, two-year old son Hussein and three-month old daughter Ayaan, hoping they would be following soon after.
“It was really tough leaving my family back home with the civil war that was taking place in Somalia at that time,” said Hassan. “I had many sleepless nights worrying about their safety.” Although a difficult decision, Hassan felt he must go alone at first to get himself settled before bringing over the rest of his family. His decision to come to the Minneapolis area was due in large part to the supportive Somali community and the knowledge that he had a place to live with family friends. Within the first two months of arriving in Minneapolis, Hassan became acquainted with the landscape, found employment as a machine operator, and moved into his own apartment. Hassan dreamed of a day when the rest of his family could join him. That day eventually came a year later when Sahra and the two young children were reunited with their eagerly awaiting father. “I was amazed with how much my daughter had grown in the year we had been apart,” said Hassan. “This was the first time since coming to America that I felt truly at peace with my surroundings.” In the years that followed, the Haydar family welcomed two more children into the world--Abduljabaar in 2003 and Abdiwali in 2004. Changes continued for the family as Hassan took a position as an assembly mechanic with the electronic company Celestica in Arden Hills. Space was becoming an ever constant problem with six family members living in a two bedroom apartment. However, with Hassan being the only family member employed, a larger place where each family member could have substantial privacy was an unlikely possibility. One day while on break at work, Hassan had a conversation with another employee about his current living situation. She suggested applying for a home through Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity (TCHFH). It didn’t take long for Hassan to take her advice. Within three months Hassan got word that his family had been selected for a home in north Minneapolis. “I never thought we would get a house with enough room for the six of us to live comfortably,” said Hassan. “I will no longer have to feel like a visitor in an apartment complex with this new home.” Living in a Habitat home since March 2006 allowed Hassan the monetary means to go back to school at Dunwoody to study electronic technology. As well, the stability of homeownership provides Hassan’s children with the opportunity to get involved with community activities. For example, his oldest son Hussein recently joined the local after-school football team. Hassan is proud of the relationships he has built with community members in his neighborhood. Whether it’s being involved with the annual block party or organizing a committee of parents to watch over neighborhood children, Hassan takes a proactive approach to community-building. Caitlin Mosman, Homebuyer Relations Assistant for TCHFH, has seen first hand the way Hassan interacts with his community. “From the day of the dedication he has made a point to be an integral part of the community,” said Mosman. “He really understands what Habitat is all about.” Contributed by Patrick Dunn |
