A home isn’t just four walls; it’s a sanctuary that provides safety and stability for a family. For Sherae, a devoted mother of two—8-year-old Abel and toddler Kane—home means just that: a secure place where her family can thrive. Their lives revolve around family time, attending church on Sundays, and cheering at Abel’s soccer games on Saturdays.
Having lived in Tucson for over nine years, Sherae has faced the constant challenge of finding affordable housing that also offers a safe environment for her children. Too often, she felt forced to choose one over the other.
“A lot of the obstacles were moving from place to place trying to find something that was affordable and good for my kids and safe—safe environment for my kids.”
Beyond the walls of her 2-bedroom, townhouse rental, safety has been an ongoing concern. Sherae’s home was burglarized, her car broken into, and Abel’s bike stolen—all distressing incidents that added to her frustration. The nearby area has also seen troubling events, including a shooting in a neighboring community.
Sherae’s story reflects the struggle many families face when trying to balance affordability and security. Her dream is to provide her children with a stable, safe home where they can grow without fear—a place that truly feels like their own. Her luck changed when a coworker, a previous Habitat homeowner, referred her to the program. Sherae applied twice and was overjoyed when she received the acceptance call from Habitat Tucson. She channeled her excitement into completing her sweat equity hours and is already halfway done before the end of the year. Her favorite part has been, “Getting to know everybody that volunteers. I’ve already made friends,” Sherae goes on to share, “just getting to know the people that go, our building, and the volunteers—it’s been a good experience.”
She’s even applied her newly acquired construction skills at home, recently fixing a drawer in her townhouse. Reflecting on her journey, she discovered something unexpected, in her own words,
“[I am] capable of building the home. I'm looking forward to creating this forever home with my boys.”
When Sherae envisions receiving the keys to the home she built with her own hands, it’s the little things that excite her—buying furniture, giving her growing sons their own rooms, and finally finding peace of mind. Overall, she knows,
“We’re going to feel like we’re finally stable and we’re in one place and you know, we’re going to make it our home, we don’t have to worry about moving again, and just feeling secure in our home.”