Marcie and Donovan
build #72 Marcie and Donovan - Home for the Holidays
“If you get knocked down, get back up.” Delivered with a laugh, but after getting to know a bit more about Marcie, our newest homeowner partner, you will realize she has applied this simple idea throughout her life.
Marcie and Donovan, are a mother and son duo that we are proud to celebrate as our newest Homeowners on our Bruce Avenue project. As with many Habitat Homeowners, their story is filled with strength, courage and dedicated hard work. They have faced many challenges that belie their fun-loving, warm personalities.
Marcie was a young mom, Donovan was a surprise that arrived while Marcie was still a teen herself. An unexpected pregnancy might have permanently and negatively affected the future for many, however Marcie rallied. Marcie and Donovan formed a small but incredibly strong family, ready to grow and meet life’s challenges together. Marcie pushed herself to complete high school, then went on to post-secondary education, she worked to provide a stable future for herself and her young son.
Fate stepped in and knocked this family down once more. While not yet a toddler, Donovan was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Marcie faced the battle for Donovan’s life head on. The challenges the two faced together may have often felt insurmountable. Yet together they fought their most important battle yet, the fight for Donovan’s life.
Fast forward twelve years, you will find Donovan to be an intelligent, busy, fun-loving teen who loves baseball and basketball and spending time with his friends. While the illness must have left some battle wounds, Donovan has turned out much like his mother – a fighter, and when he gets knocked down, he gets back up.
With all of the hurdles Marcie and Donovan have had to overcome, they also faced one that many families across our community are facing – core-housing need. Marcie has been working hard to provide a home in a safe neighbourhood where Donovan will be able to attend high school and set down roots to ensure his future success. The housing market makes homeownership impossible and finding suitable rental accommodations seems like an unattainable dream. Partnering with Habitat Windsor-Essex will be the final hand up the Marcie and Donovan need. Theirs is a powerful story of courage and determination - success against incredible odds. We are honoured to partner with Marcie and Donovan on their journey to homeownership and help Marcie achieve the goal that she has worked so hard to attain – a safe affordable home for her family to grow and thrive.
November 30th on GivingTuesday we celebrated by welcoming Marcie and Donovan Home for the Holidays! Emotions ran high as those gathered listed to Marcie's moving words of appreciation. Gathered were Jerry Udell of Miller-Canfield, longtime supporters of Habitat for Humanity and Home Sponsor, Mayor Drew Dilkens, friends, family and Habitat Board Members, volunteers and staff.
a history of success with habitat
The home currently under renovation has already seen the ultimate success story unfold under its roof - 16 years ago Trisha was uncertain about the future for herself and her young daughter. After a series of job losses she had returned to school and finally found employment in her chosen career in the healthcare field. No stranger to hard work, Trisha was driven to provide a stable home environment for her family but still found herself in core-housing need. When Trisha’s application to partner with Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex was approved she received the hand up that allowed her to finally achieve the dream of homeownership and the safety and stability she had yearned to provide for her daughter.
The Bruce Avenue house was constructed as part of the 2005 Jimmy Carter Work Project where volunteers built 280 homes on a dual-country build. Habitat Windsor-Essex jumped at the chance to reacquire the well-built home, recognizing that the memories created during construction of the home are shared by many local volunteers.
Habitat’s model is unlike any other affordable housing option. Partner families help build their own homes and purchase them through a mortgage geared to their income. This allows families to build equity for their future and helps reverse the cycle of poverty. The geared-to-income mortgage model meant Trisha and her daughter could focus on career and education knowing her safe decent affordable housing was secure. With the same determination that made her the perfect partner for a Habitat Home, Trisha worked diligently to pay her mortgage off ahead of schedule. July 2021 Trisha achieved that goal!
Trisha is now married and finds herself an empty-nester – her children living successfully and independently on their own. Having paid off her mortgage, Trisha is seeking a more rural lifestyle and is overjoyed that Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex has chosen to reacquire the home that provided the foundation for her amazing life – allowing another family the security and stability that she has enjoyed for more than 15 years.
“We are so excited to have the opportunity to reacquire this home. Trisha is a shining example of the transformational impact of Habitat’s geared to income Homeownership model. We look forward to partnering with the next family, who we know will thrive in this Habitat Home” says Fiona Coughlin, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex.
Habitat Windsor-Essex is so happy to be a part of the success of these two amazing families. By working alongside our community building affordable homes, parents can achieve their dreams of providing a safe, secure and permanent home for their families.
The Bruce Avenue house was constructed as part of the 2005 Jimmy Carter Work Project where volunteers built 280 homes on a dual-country build. Habitat Windsor-Essex jumped at the chance to reacquire the well-built home, recognizing that the memories created during construction of the home are shared by many local volunteers.
Habitat’s model is unlike any other affordable housing option. Partner families help build their own homes and purchase them through a mortgage geared to their income. This allows families to build equity for their future and helps reverse the cycle of poverty. The geared-to-income mortgage model meant Trisha and her daughter could focus on career and education knowing her safe decent affordable housing was secure. With the same determination that made her the perfect partner for a Habitat Home, Trisha worked diligently to pay her mortgage off ahead of schedule. July 2021 Trisha achieved that goal!
Trisha is now married and finds herself an empty-nester – her children living successfully and independently on their own. Having paid off her mortgage, Trisha is seeking a more rural lifestyle and is overjoyed that Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex has chosen to reacquire the home that provided the foundation for her amazing life – allowing another family the security and stability that she has enjoyed for more than 15 years.
“We are so excited to have the opportunity to reacquire this home. Trisha is a shining example of the transformational impact of Habitat’s geared to income Homeownership model. We look forward to partnering with the next family, who we know will thrive in this Habitat Home” says Fiona Coughlin, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex.
Habitat Windsor-Essex is so happy to be a part of the success of these two amazing families. By working alongside our community building affordable homes, parents can achieve their dreams of providing a safe, secure and permanent home for their families.
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To participate in future builds, please contact 519-969-3762 ext. 222 or email hlovell@habitatwindsor.org
