Welcome Home Pierre Family
Heather and her three children are excited beyond words and thankful to finally have a permanent, affordable home.
Originally from Trinidad, Heather found herself raising three children alone. She has worked hard to find stability for her family. A position in wholesale inventory allowed Heather to settle her family in an apartment in Loudoun, but with the increasing rent costs, she moved into a two-bedroom basement apartment in the home of a friend. This space only had a kitchenette and Heather found herself sleeping on the couch so the children could have the bedrooms. This living situation became even more challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic when home also became school and work for the family. Heather and the children lived in this space at the time they began to partner with Loudoun Habitat trusting that God would bless them with a permanent home.
While working with Loudoun Habitat, Heather found out that the home where they were renting was being sold and they had to move. At this point they had only their personal belongings because the furniture in the basement apartment was the homeowners and the family found themselves once again starting over. But Heather’s determination and joyful spirit showed as she found a two-bedroom apartment that she could afford.
Heather partnered with Loudoun Habitat through sweat equity, completing homeowner education, individual financial mentoring, working in the ReStore, and in helping with several other Habitat construction projects before selecting the Clover Terrace townhouse. As part of her sweat equity hours, Heather worked with Habitat’s Construction team to paint trim, drywall and update the basement of her home. Heather’s oldest daughter contributed to the family’s sweat equity by volunteering in a couple of youth events and caring for her siblings while Heather completed other sweat equity activities. As a family project, they are planning to paint the mantel after they move into their new home.
Heather shared the following with those that had gathered:
“First I would like to give praise to my awesome God I serve. When my eyes were full of tears, he dried them up and placed me around angels that would make me smile. When I was worried about my children, he placed angels that will look over them in school or anywhere I was not there. When I was worried my son will not have the proper positive male figure, he placed leaders like scout leaders. When I was worried about stability and my children having a roof over their heads, he placed an army called Habitat for Humanity.
You see, he knew I needed lots of hands, eyes, motivation, answers to questions, an opportunity, and most of all I needed to see the finish line. It takes a village to raise a child and what a wonderful village the Lord has placed me in.
I did not do this alone, but we all did. Everyone here today took part of the success. Some angels are unable to make it as the heavens needed them for another mission.
Thank you for choosing my family for this program. Thank you for accepting my late night nervous calls. Thank you for teaching me finance, budgeting, mudding, painting and how to better manage my life. Thank you for laughing at my jokes. Thank you to all the donors for participating in this awesome program. Thank you for all of you believing in me and helping my family rise.
This is not the end but the beginning of a new journey.”
To view additional photos from this very special dedication, please click here.