For Clarissa, a Tucson native and single mother of two, home has always meant more than just shelter—it’s meant safety, stability, and space for her family to thrive. But for years, that dream felt out of reach. Clarissa and her children—Saiana (12), who has cerebral palsy, and Myles (8)—endured cramped, unsafe living conditions. Their one-bedroom duplex had negligent landlords who ignored broken appliances and allowed crime to plague the neighborhood.
"Right now, our biggest challenge is space—we just don't have enough room to breathe. Mental health and having your own space are so important, especially since that wasn't prioritized when I was growing up. I share a room with my son—which I don't mind—while my daughter has her own room. But we all need our own space to truly feel at peace."
The final straw? A two-bedroom upgrade offered no real relief—just thin walls, noisy neighbors, and no room for Saiana’s physical therapy or Myles’s creative projects. Remembering her aunt’s volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity, Clarissa applied on a whim. “I was sick of wasting money on rent. I needed something permanent for my kids,” she says. Months later, she was accepted into the program—and began pouring her determination into sweat equity.
Balancing full time work as a customer service rep and a part-time hairstylist, parenting, and 200+ hours of sweat equity hasn’t been easy. But Habitat taught her resilience: “I’ve learned teamwork, consistency, and how to use tools I never thought I’d touch—like the ‘wood cutter’!” The support from Habitat staff and fellow future homeowners kept her going. “We pray together, message each other, and push through the hard days. That bond drives me.”
"The hardest part is missing time with my children - not being there to help with homework like I usually do, not having those everyday moments together. We're an incredibly connected family and being apart so many hours requires real sacrifice. There's no downtime. But I keep reminding myself: this is temporary. At the end there's a big, big prize. It's not easy but it's doable."
For Clarissa, homeownership means more than just a new house. This represents a safe place for her family where they will be safe from constant break-ins and lout neighbors. It will be a place where Saiana can finally garden, a space she’s always wanted. A home where Myles can play outside and use his engineering talents to build his “toy sirens” without complaints. This house is a legacy to both her children.
This will be a place where Clarissa can host holidays like her grandmother did because she feels that life’s too short not to be close. For her, “Home is a roof. Home is commitment. Home is where we’ll make memories and grow—finally together, finally safe.”