The Joy of Becoming Habitat Homeowners

Amina and Said are from Somali and moved to the United States in 1998 and 2000.  They have five children; Ahmed (age 18), Hanod (age 11), Salma (age 10), Hamsa (age 9), and Siham (age 4).

The family’s current home Eden Prairie doesn’t have the space they need. The family of eight (Amina’s aunt, Adei will also be moving into the home with them), hopes to buy a Habitat home in within the year, and is in the process of completing the required training and sweat equity time (300 - 500 hours are mandatory for each homebuyer family) to be eligible for Habitat homeownership. Amina and Said are also excited to learn how to maintain their house and meet the volunteers who will be helping them build their future home.

Said and Ahmed (pictured left) have already started logging some of their hours on-site, helping to raise walls, install windows, add insulation and place siding on their soon-to-be home. Said was even present for the homebuilding kick off on June 2 (pictured below), and Site Supervisor McKinsie Clyde shared that he has been at the site nearly four to five days each week!

“His joy is contagious,” said McKinsie. “He’s just so happy to be here, to be a part of this and is so thankful to all the volunteers who are helping to build his new home.”

In addition to having adequate space for their large family,  the Hiliye/Farah family members shared that they are excited to meet their new neighbors and build lasting relationships with other individuals in their new Coon Rapids community.