Success stories

Jason G.

Jason G. wants to show his son that he can achieve his goals through hard work.

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Jason G.

Jason G.

Jason G. wants to show his son that he can achieve his goals through hard work.

Jason is a “cool, quiet person” and young father, works for the Postal Service as a maintenance worker. His quiet confidence works to his advantage, because soon, Jason will achieve what many find impossible – to own a home in New York City before the age of 30.

Currently, Jason and his son live with Jason’s cousin. The building is well-maintained, but Jason shares a room with his son, who has mild autism, and the situation is over-crowded.

Jason’s older sister sent him an email with the Habitat NYC Home Purchase Program application. Jason was confident that he would qualify, because “I have the credit score needed and I have the income for this home. I also have the money to put down on the home.”

So what does owning a home mean to someone so young? “It makes me feel great knowing my son will have his own room and more space to see him smile. It’s priceless.” The stability of an affordable home will not only give Jason’s son a great example, but will give Jason a springboard from which he can follow his own dream – to become a New York City Firefighter.

Sheree and Julian W.

For Sheree and Julian, Sydney House is perfect – their chance to own a piece of the borough they love.

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Sheree and Julian W.

Sheree and Julian W.

Sheree and Julian both grew up in the Bronx, not far from their new home at Sydney House. Not to be left out, the couple’s four-year-old daughter, Sadie, was born in the borough too! They didn’t want to leave their hometown, but as the family grew and rental costs in the Bronx rose faster and faster, they were facing the possibility of being forced out of the borough they love.

The family enjoys reading and experiencing the outdoors together – they love the Bronx for its beautiful outdoor spaces and hiking trails! Julian is an industrial engineer for UPS, creating the daily schedule for the operation and flow of packages. Sheree is a dietitian who ensures residents receive optimal nutrition at a local nursing home. Sadie is a student who loves to be outside as much as her parents. The family lived in the same one-bedroom apartment for more than two decades, prior to moving into Sydney House.

The building is nice – quiet and clean – but it’s not theirs. It’s not forever. It’s not permanent. Sheree and Julian knew they wanted to buy a home – they even got pre-approved for a mortgage prior, but they never made an offer on a home because they wanted to pay down some other debts first. But they never stopped dreaming of a home.

As they scanned the City’s Housing Connect website one day, they saw Habitat NYC’s Sydney House co-op. It’s in the Bronx, and even in the same neighborhood Julian and Sheree grew up! It was perfect – their chance to own a piece of the borough they love. They started saving, and were soon accepted into Habitat NYC’s Home Purchase Program.

The family is so excited to provide a stable home for Sadie, and yes, Sydney House is close to a variety of the Bronx’s best outdoor activities!

Hicham N.

"I am extremely excited to own a new home. Owning a new home will make me feel safe and healthy."

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Hicham N.

Hicham N.

Hicham and his wife Salima are cramped. Hicham, who works as an IT field engineer at La Guardia Airport, and Salima, who stays home with the children, live four people in a one bedroom apartment. “We can’t move around,” Hicham says, “and the kids can’t play safely.” The house is cold in the winter and hot in the summer, and there’s mold and pests. Not a place for a growing family.

It’s time for the family to move, but because of the cost of living here in New York, they worried that they may have to move to another state.
The family looked into buying their own home through a traditional mortgage, but they couldn’t afford the down payments. Thankfully, Hicham heard about Habitat NYC from a friend. He researched the program and liked what he found – he applied and was accepted into the program. He kept an eye on his credit score, and made sure to pay all his bills on time in order to qualify.

“I am extremely excited to own a home,” Hicham told us. While some people are excited to decorate their new home, Naji has his mind on more practical matters: he is looking forward to learning all about the circuit breaker, the water main and even installing his own security system. “Owning a home will make me feel safe and healthy.”