After years of living in apartments where neighbors' alarms and footsteps marked each morning, Kendra Morales woke up to something different in April 2024.
Silence.
The community resource specialist and assistant manager at United Way 211 had just become a homeowner through Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity's Homeownership Program, moving into her three-bedroom Roseville home on her own.
"I never thought that I would be able to purchase a home alone," Kendra shares. "I thought, is this real?"
After saving every paystub and never missing a day of work, Kendra reached out to Twin Cities Habitat. She learned that she qualified as a first-time homebuyer, a designation that includes more people than most think. They accepted her application, and she took every lesson from the homeownership education classes seriously.
"I use what I learned all the time," Kendra remembers. "I learned I could add more money on my mortgage payments to pay down the principal faster. I learned how to try fixing things myself first before calling someone."
The maintenance class taught her skills like changing locks and preventing mold. When Kendra moved in, she received a washer, dryer, and lawn supplies. The maintenance supervisor showed her how to use and maintain everything properly.
"A lot of it I did know from growing up, but it was still a good refresher because at least I knew I was on the right path," she remembers.
Homeownership also tested Kendra's resilience early.
A bathtub overflow drain leaked undetected for three months, causing mold damage in the finished basement below. Because Kendra's home was rehabbed by Twin Cities Habitat, she had a one-year warranty policy on those repairs, and she was able to get started on initial repairs.
"There was someone in my house every single day. I work from home so that was a little tedious," Kendra remembers from the months-long repair process. She maintained her composure throughout, drawing on professional experience handling difficult situations at United Way 211.
Twin Cities Habitat intervened when initial repairs from other contractors failed. They brought professional crews who gutted and properly restored the bathroom. The maintenance team created a comprehensive list of other needed repairs throughout the house.
"It went from horrible to absolutely amazing. I still have a couple of the guys on my speed dial because they're just like, 'Hey, if anything small goes wrong, maybe we could help,'" Kendra shares.
Moving from Frogtown to Roseville meant adapting to a new neighborhood.
Kendra balanced being welcoming without overwhelming her new neighbors. The breakthrough came when friends helped with yard work, creating natural opportunities for introductions.
"I think the first neighbor felt comfortable, there's not just one person out there, so now I can come out and be like, 'Hey, what's going on out here?' and that's exactly what happened," she explains.
She and her son now attend ice cream socials, the Roseville parade, and connect with the church across County Road. Through her United Way work, she collaborates with local food shelves, strengthening community ties.
While Kendra initially moved in alone, her 25-year-old son later joined her from the same apartment complex she'd left behind.
"Come stay with me, build your credit some more. Pay off your car, pay off your credit cards," she told him. Their plan includes having him contribute to the mortgage principal once his car is paid off, working together toward long-term financial stability.
The house has also become a space for extended family. When a family member needed a place to stay, Kendra provided a home and connected them with resources through her professional network.
"There was just one day that I was sitting in the breezeway and I can hear her babies cooing and one laughing and her just living life and she's comfortable and she's safe and she's calm," Kendra recalls. "This is what I did this for."
For those considering homeownership through Twin Cities Habitat's programs, Kendra offers this advice:
"If you advocate for yourself and you strive for it on a continuous basis to let yourself be seen and noticed and heard, then the more beneficial it will become to you, the more doors will open for you," she advises.
Her journey from application to closing took just over a year.
Standing in her Roseville home today, where morning light fills quiet rooms, Kendra has built a foundation for her family's future and become living proof that homeownership is achievable, even when it doesn’t seem like it.
"You have to go through hoops in order to get things that you want in life," Kendra says. "If I can do it, you can do it too."