Elizabeth and her two sons—Jeraya, 14, and Josiah, 8—are self-described adventurers and goal-getters. They love being spontaneous, often deciding on a whim to go hiking in Madera Canyon or make a trip to Patagonia, always striving to discover nature every day. Her family shares a love for learning and the outdoors. For Elizabeth, driving is her form of Zen, a way to unwind and find calm after a stressful day. With 16 years of experience as a bus driver, she says it doesn’t feel like work to her. This same optimistic outlook influences how she views the world. She applied to the Homeowner Program not once, not twice, but three times!
“I’m going to try this one more time, let’s just give it my all. I was like, come on, God, because I don’t know what to do, and finally, I got accepted.”
As a single mother of two boys, Elizabeth was struggling before she found Habitat Tucson. She never thought homeownership was possible. Living in Section 8 housing, she felt she’d need to win the lottery to escape and find something better. She often faced negative criticism from her neighbors for considering leaving government housing. She was exhausted from living next to a smoke shop in a neighborhood plagued by frequent shootings, where her boys couldn’t play outside safely. But when she got accepted, she felt there was finally a light at the end of the tunnel.
“I’ll forever be grateful to Habitat because it has definitely taken me further than I could imagine. It’s made me more comfortable, taken me out of survival mode, and made me more confident and more outgoing.”
Through her experience, Elizabeth has become someone who doesn’t hesitate to help others struggling, just as she once did. She turned her dreams into reality, balancing long hours of work, time away from her boys, and outdoor adventures with them. Her sacrifices have taught her to slow down and appreciate life more. Now, she describes her journey as one of healing and thriving, and she wants to motivate others. She feels deeply connected to her community.
She speaks highly of the staff who helped teach her not just about construction, but about building meaningful relationships. She admits that at first, her sweat equity volunteering felt like a chore, but now, “I crave it. Even though I’ve finished all my hours, I still go just because I want to motivate somebody else. I have people who ask me, please don’t stop volunteering, and I’m like, I couldn’t even if I wanted to.”
Elizabeth’s journey is one of healing, thriving, and creating a supportive community. She knew she wanted to live among neighbors who, like her, “fought tooth and nail to be where we are.” Now, she feels at peace with everything.
Her positivity extends into her home. When she found out which house would become her forever home, she chose to paint it yellow. “I’m happy. And the way I feel right now, that’s how I want my house to look. And that’s the cheerful color. I just can’t wait to get in there. I’m so excited!” Elizabeth is eager to inspire other families to keep applying and looks forward to the day when she can walk into her home, continue to set new goals for her future, and keep growing and thriving.