Building stronger foundations
Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate the women who nurture, protect, and inspire us. This Mother’s Day, we reflect on how Habitat DC-NOVA’s mission empowers mothers and families to build lasting foundations for their futures.
Through our homeownership program, home repairs, and sustainable building practices, we are committed to helping families create stability and intergenerational wealth. Many of the homeowners we serve are single mothers, striving—like moms everywhere—to provide a safe, healthy place for their children to grow and thrive. By purchasing an affordable home, they create stability and invest in their family’s future for generations to come.
For mothers, a stable home is more than just a roof over their heads; it’s a foundation for their children’s future. Research underscores the profound impact of housing stability on children’s well-being. According to the Urban Institute, unstable housing can lead to adverse health outcomes, hinder educational achievements and preparedness, and limit future economic opportunities for children later in life, highlighting the lasting effects insufficient housing can have on families.
On the flip side, stable and quality housing provides a nurturing environment that supports children’s growth and development. For instance, in D.C., compared to the graduation rate of 69% among high schoolers, children of Habitat homeowners graduate at a rate of 92%, as reported by an impact study done in 2019. This highlights the critical importance of affordable housing in fostering stronger families and communities.
Celebrating mothers like Stacy
Stacy is a Habitat DC-NOVA homeowner who moved into her home in 2023. A dedicated mother to three sons and a guardian to her teenage niece, she faced the challenges of renting a home that was not only unaffordable but also lacked the necessary accommodations for her son, who uses a wheelchair. The absence of a ramp meant that her family had to carry him up and down the front steps, highlighting the daily obstacles they encountered.
Determined to provide a better living situation for her family, Stacy embarked on the path to homeownership. In October 2022, she was approved to purchase her first home, a four-bedroom, two-bathroom single-family residence. Stacy also contributed to the construction of her home by putting in 200 hours of sweat equity and financial education. By December 2023, she and her son Khalil had finalized the purchase and moved into their new home designed to meet their family’s needs.
Stacy remarked that she looks forward to being a homeowner as “it will belong to our family. Any adjustments to accommodate my son will be permanent, and we won’t have to dismantle or take it down.”
The home features accessible elements such as wider doorways, a bathroom with safety measures like a removable showerhead, and a built-in ramp for easy entry. Additionally, the property includes energy-efficient appliances and solar panels, aligning with sustainable living practices.
When sharing about the support she received throughout this journey at the Groveton dedication ceremony, Stacy reflected that she “learned from [her] parents it takes a village—it took a village to make this plan come into fruition. I’d just like to thank everybody for every nail that was hammered.”
We are proud to partner with amazing mothers and hardworking members of our community, like Stacy, in the journey to affordable and accessible homeownership!
How you can support Habitat DC-NOVA this Mother’s Day
From the team at Habitat DC-NOVA, Happy Mother’s Day! We celebrate the mothers who inspire us and the communities we build together.
Consider honoring the mothers in your life by supporting Habitat DC-NOVA. Your involvement can make a lasting impact:
- Volunteer: Find the right project for you, whether it may be building, fundraising or at a ReStore!
- Donate: Contribute financially or donate items to the ReStores
- Advocate: Support policies that promote affordable housing