Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver is proud to
introduce LeRoy and his three children. LeRoy
currently works as a medical equipment assembler at Gambro
BCT. He also works part-time as a Family Enrichment
Coordinator with the Interfaith Hospital Network, an
organization that helped his family transition from
homelessness several years ago.
When speaking of this
chance for homeownership, LeRoy states that it will totally
change his life and the lives of his children. Several years
ago he and his family were homeless, and to be able to
transition to owning a home is an amazing thing. He no
longer has to worry about becoming homeless again. He notes
with a smile that he is excited about having "a place that's
going to be our own."
The children are
all looking forward to having their own home - especially
having more space in a nice area. The whole family is glad
to be moving to a safer neighborhood, and to a home that is
not rundown and in need of repair.
Just four years
ago, LeRoy and his family were homeless. They were
constantly moving between homeless shelters and motels,
unable to find an affordable place to call home that
provided a permanent solution to their situation. Even with
LeRoy working full time, his income did not afford them many
options in an expensive housing market.
After staying
in a shelter for three months, they moved into a
transitional housing program. Just as they seemed to
have achieved some semblance of stability, tragedy struck.
The family watched helplessly as their apartment caught
fire, and they lost most of their possessions.
Though
his circumstances seemed bleak, LeRoy did not give up hope.
After learning about Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver's
homeownership program, LeRoy knew that this was the
opportunity that could truly make a lasting difference for
his family. He says, "when I got the call that I had been
accepted to Habitat's homeownership program I almost fell
over. I was so excited for this new beginning for my
family."
After spending a year fulfilling several
hundred sweat equity hours by working on the construction
site, attending home maintenance and money management
workshops, and saving for his down payment, LeRoy is now a
proud homeowner.
LeRoy is incredibly grateful to the
volunteers and donors that have given his familiy an
opporunity for a brigher future. He is committed to
providing the same opporunities to other families by
volunteering as a board member of the Inter-Faith
Hospitality Network. He and his children volunteer there
regularly and his children were recently honored with the
Alameda West Kiwanis Club's "Extraordinary Ordinary Award"
for their volunteer achievement.
The home was
sponsored by Habitat on the Hill, an interfaith coalition of
ten Denver congregations committed to building houses in
partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver. LeRoy
wanted to send the following message to the home sponsor:
"Thank you so much for sponsoring my family and me!"