Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

Amidst political unrest in her native land of Cambodia and the hardships of a divorce Sothan Chhuth made a promise to herself.  She set out for the United States in October of 1996 to lay the foundation for a better life in a land of opportunity.  Leaving her three young children with family, Sothan departed solo with huge uncertainties:  Where to stay?  How to gain income? Who to lean on in a time of need?

“I just wanted a better life for my kids than the one I had growing up,” Sothan said.  “I knew if we stayed there they wouldn’t have that chance.”

It didn’t take long for Sothan’s nerves to be put at ease in the form of a woman named Vina who sat beside her on a flight to California.  The two began talking about their lives in Cambodia and their visions for the future.  It turned out that Vina was also traveling by herself and had left children back home to secure a better life for her family, just like Sothan.  Moreover Vina had found a place to stay in Long Beach and invited Sothan to stay there for the time being. 

All the enthusiasm of life in a new land turned to trouble for the two women almost instantly when they arrived in Long Beach.  They soon realized the neighborhood where they were to stay had huge problems with gang violence.  Sothan and Vina were so scared for their safety they lasted only ten days, ultimately boarding a plane to Minneapolis to stay with a cousin of Sothan’s.

Upon arriving in Minneapolis the two were fortunate enough to gain employment as seamstresses for a local department store.  They lived together for a couple of months longer, then both moved out on their own in hope that their children would soon join them.

Finally in 1999 Sothan’s wish came true and her children Sochakria, Sosethika and Sobbottra joined her in a subsidized housing unit in St. Paul.  When she saw her kids again, Sothan felt all the struggles acclimating herself to a new culture were worth it.

Years passed and the children got bigger and were beginning to outgrow the apartment.  In addition leaking water was coming down from the ceiling causing mold on the carpets.  And on top of everything she felt for the safety of her children due to some rowdy neighbors.  After hearing the housing issues the family was facing Sothan’s friend Betty suggested she apply for a Habitat home.  Betty, a long time donor to Twin Cities Habitat thought Sothan would be a likely candidate.  Nine months after applying, Sothan received word that their family would be given the opportunity to buy a home in the city of Hastings.

“When they told me we got a house in Hastings I had no idea where it was,” said Sothan.  “I had a friend drive me out to see the city, and after that I felt it was a great place for a new start.”

Sothan and her family are grateful to be out of that seedy St. Paul neighborhood and into their Twin Cities Habitat home where good schools are only minutes away.  Sothan loves her home, takes pride in her home and makes sure there is money to landscape and garden during the summer months.    

During the building process, on days where Sothan was busy with work, you could find her old friend Vina volunteering at the build site in Hastings to help complete her sweat equity hours.  The two still keep in touch by having family gatherings around holidays.

“It’s really nice to know anytime I have a problem Vina will be there for me,” said Sothan.  “We’ve been through so much together, and I’m so blessed that she’s still in my life.”

Contributed by Patrick Dunn