| Long Journey ends in peace for Habitat family |
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Each year, the U.S. government conducts a Diversity Lottery program that grants visas to randomly chosen individuals. For Abebe Woldeamanuel, his wife Woinshet Tessema and son, Abirham this lottery was the only way to escape the political unrest that was taking place in their homeland of Ethiopia. The family waited and waited. Finally in October of 2001 they were selected for a visa and also received word that a friend living in St. Paul agreed to sponsor their trip to the United States.
Initially, their two-bedroom apartment in St. Paul seemed spacious. However the birth of two more children, Nathan and Ezra, changed everything. Their residence, once accommodating, seemed cramped and unmanageable. More troublesome than the issue of space, however, was pest infestation. Cockroaches and mice became permanent and uncontrollable housemates. An insufficient electrical system and consistent crime problems in the surrounding neighborhood made Abebe realize this apartment setting was no place for his children to grow up. But he didn’t have the income to relocate. At the suggestion of a friend who had visited the apartment the family went through the application process in hopes of partnering with Twin Cities Habitat. Within three months they received word that they had been selected for a home in Woodbury. “When we were first told on the phone that we were chosen for a home in Woodbury I had no idea where that was,” said Abebe. “For our family it didn’t matter where it was; we were just so excited to have a home of our own. Abebe and Woinshet worked diligently to complete their sweat equity hours by attending homeowner classes as well as aiding in the construction process. “Working with volunteers was really fun,” said Abebe. “We especially enjoyed their interest, motivation, dedication and willingness to teach. With an affordable mortgage Abebe and Woinshet are now able to enroll their children in competitive schools and save money for a vehicle that can handle Minnesota winters. They are also now able to think about more long-term goals like going to college and securing better jobs to improve the family’s economic condition. “This home has changed the way we think about our future,” said Abebe. “It’s given us the opportunity to think big.” |
