Since its founding in 1998, Habitat for Humanity, Saint John Region Inc., has built four houses in Saint John, including a handicap accessible house in 2000. The homes have provided decent, affordable housing at no interest to four local families who met the Habitat criteria.

2001 Build

Cheryl Green and her two daughters, Keesha and Tiffany, moved into their Habitat home in December of 2001. Cheryl applied to the program in 2000 after seeing an article in the Saint John newspaper about a family she knew who received a home. Someone with a greater need got it that year, but when the time came for applications for the 2001 home, she figured she should try again.

Cheryl says being selected was very exciting and while the physical build
was challenging, she found Habitat for Humanity, Saint John Region Inc., extremely supportive.

“During the build, I met a lot of people and learned a lot of things I never
knew about,” says Cheryl. “Habitat is a good group of people to work with. I look forward to the next build and hope to help as much as possible.”

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2000 Build

Confined to a wheelchair since 1992 after his spine was injured in a van mishap, David Foley was living with his wife, Kerry, and three children, Katelynn, Anthony and Megan, in a small Millford rental when he heard about Habitat for Humanity, Saint John Region Inc. He applied to the program and qualified to have a handicap-accessible home built.

“It was such a big morale boost,” says David. “It’s about independence. It was frustrating because I couldn’t do anything, but the house Habitat built is totally accessible and I’m now involved. I can cook, clean, do a wash, have my own shower. It’s given me the independence to come and go as I please. It’s just a great program.”

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1999 Build

Ana Nan worked as a registered nursing assistant at Loch Lomond Villa with Gordon Beck in 1999. When she saw the news story about his family and their Habitat home, she asked him what the program was all about.

“I’d always wanted a house but couldn’t pay the down payment,” says Ana. “I applied, had the interviews and qualified.”

Ana says she found the build difficult as she would be at the site in the morning then go to work at night. But there’s no denying it was worth it when she and her son Sammy moved into their two-bedroom bungalow in October of 1999.

“You work hard for [the house],” says Ana, who found the moral support of Habitat for Humanity, Saint John Region Inc., very good. And owning her own home is very beneficial. “It built up confidence for myself and for my little boy. Being a single parent, this is a big light in my life. I realize I can do things for myself.”

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1998 Build

Gordon Beck was working two jobs, including as the custodian at Forest Hills Baptist Church, and raising three children with his wife, Jacqueline, when Habitat for Humanity, Saint John Region Inc., held its first meetings at the church The pastor encouraged the Becks to apply. They did and they qualified.

Once selected, the couple logged approximately 850 hours of sweat equity helping with the build. Friends and family, including the Becks children – Amy, Adam 7, and Austin – logged the remaining 150 required by families selected for Habitat homes.

The Becks moved into their three-bedroom bungalow in October of 2000, and owning a Habitat home has opened many doors of opportunities for them. Gordon now works at Loch Lomond Villa full time; Jacqueline was able to return to school in 2000 and finished a medical office assistant course at CompuCollege in early 2002. And Leisha, a Labrador-husky mix, joined Timothy the cat as a family pet.

“Having our own home makes things more settled,” says Jacqueline. “We don’t have to worry about the landlord selling the building, and if we want to do something, we can do it.”

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