Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

From the outside, this New Brighton home doesn't stand out from any other on the block.  Inside it's not lavish by any means: no dishwasher, air-conditioning or finished basement. However, for this home has provided the blueprint for a new beginning for three separate families.

 After years of dealing with substandard housing, Lucie Cutts and her four children were accepted to buy a Twin Cities Habitat home. With an affordable mortgage payment, Lucie was able to put herself through school, secure steady employment and put aside money for her children's future. "Going through the whole Habitat process instilled a good work ethic in me that I passed on to my children," said Lucie.

After numerous promotions, Lucie was able to afford a traditional mortgage and wanted to give another family a head start on their dreams. She sold her home back to Twin Cities Habitat and, within months, welcomed new homeowners Jeff and Tabatha Obert to the neighborhood. 

The Oberts moved into their home in early 1997 and were instantly filled with a sense of pride.  The children were finally able to experience simple childhood joys like having neighborhood friends over to visit or taking the dog for a walk. According to Tabatha, "Hope came alive in our hearts. For the first time ever we were able to look forward and start planning for our children's futures."

Jeff and Tabatha were able to use the resources associated with the home to start their own businesses. Jeff started his own lawn and snow plow business, using the added garage space to store equipment. Tabatha started her own at-home daycare service for neighborhood kids, charging only what people could afford to pay.   

With the birth of their fifth child, things became cramped. But Jeff continued to advance in his primary job as a spring manufacturer, and they were able to buy a larger house-after selling their little house back to Twin Cities Habitat.

Hemen Hussein and his family are the latest to put down roots in this New Brighton home, a home that has meant so much to so many.