For Michelle, a single mother and dedicated caregiver, the dream of homeownership was built on a foundation of perseverance. After more than a decade of renting and a five-year journey to qualify, she is now building her own home with Habitat for Humanity Tucson’s Homeownership Program—a milestone that recently became so real it moved her to tears during an interview.
“What does home mean to you?” The simple question gave her pause, and for a moment, emotion outweighed words. For Michelle and her two children, 18-year-old Kayla and 3-year-old Elias, home represents the triumphant end of a long struggle and the stable start they have worked so hard to achieve.
A Tucson native, Michelle has built her life around helping others. “I’ve been doing caregiving for 12 years,” she shared. “Everything started with my grandpa. I never left caregiving ever since then.”
Her work is a point of pride, but providing for her family on a caregiver’s salary has come with significant challenges. For the past 12 years, the family has lived in housing provided by the Primavera Foundation.
“I love living there,” Michelle said, “but I feel like I need my own home now because I’ve been renting for so long.” Her motivation was clear: to give her children a permanent place to grow. The path to homeownership was not quick or easy. Michelle openly shared the hurdles she had to overcome.
“I’ve been trying to apply with Habitat for over five years, and I wouldn’t qualify because of my credit and I still owed my car.” Undeterred, she focused on her goals. “I paid off my car, I kind of learned how to budget and raised my credit.”
Her determination has been a powerful lesson for her eldest child, Kayla, who witnessed the journey firsthand. “She’s seen me struggling,” Michelle reflected. “She’s been through all that.” When asked about her mother’s process, Kayla offered a heartfelt observation: “How strong she is and that she has the courage to continue every day.”
Now an active participant in Habitat for Humanity Tucson’s Homeownership Program, Michelle is pouring her own effort into constructing her family’s future, completing her required sweat equity hours on the build site.
She has discovered an unexpected sense of accomplishment in the work. “My favorite part is like doing the bathroom detailing, cleaning,” she explained. “It’s been a really fun experience.” The hands-on involvement has empowered her with new skills and confidence. “You learn a little bit of everything,” she said, from applying tape on windows to various other tasks around the home.
With the stability of a forever home on the horizon, Michelle is already envisioning the next chapter for her family. She plans to return to school to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), building on her years of caregiving experience.
“Now that I feel like I’m going to be settled down somewhere that’s mine… I’m planning to go to school,” she said. This goal, long held back by financial and housing instability, is finally within reach.
For Michelle and her children, the Habitat home is more than a structure. It is the safe foundation from which their lives can truly grow, a place where a mother’s resilience flowers into opportunity, and where a family’s future finally begins.
Like Michelle, your family can benefit from the Habitat for Humanity Tucson’s Homeownership Program. Learn more about how it works here.