With people helping and working together, Habitat can help more residents and make the community a better place. |
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Amir and Insaf are originally from Sudan and met when they were both studying in Germany. Amir received a degree in Business Administration and Insaf studied Civil Engineering and Hydro-Geology. While Sudan is their home country, Amir and Insaf explain that homeownership would not have been possible for them there. After having their three children in Germany, they looked to Iowa as an ideal destination for their growing family. They moved to Iowa in 2010 after they were accepted to enter the U.S. through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. Both Amir and Insaf are employed as para-educators in the Iowa City Community School District. Amir works in math and German classrooms and Insaf is a para-educator mainly working in special education classrooms.
Hieba is Amir and Insaf’s oldest child. She is 14 years old and a freshman. She is excited because she will have her own space in a room that she will not have to share with her two younger brothers. She explains that when her parents become homeowners, her family will feel more stable and they will know their surroundings more intimately because they won’t have to go through the difficulties that come with moving to new rental properties every few years. Ayman is 12 and stays busy in many activities including Math Counts, Taekwondo, band, swimming and basketball. The youngest is Mustafa who is 10 years old. Mustafa is in band, orchestra and Taekwondo. He excitedly expressed that his family is “[…] nice, kind, loving, and happy.”
The family of 5 live in a three-bedroom rental home. Built in 1936 with minimal weatherization updates, the home lacks adequate insulation. The second story where one of the bedrooms is located gets too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer. Because of that, the upstairs is only used for storage, thus confining the three children into one shared bedroom. For three school-aged children, the home does not offer any private room or space that would be conducive for studying and completing school work.
For Amir and Insaf, the Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity homeownership program is more than just an opportunity to build and purchase an affordable home. They appreciate the many skills they have learned while completing their sweat equity hours renovating Habitat homes and assisting on new home construction projects. Prior to partnering with Habitat, they had never done anything related to building or construction and they consider the leadership from Habitat staff has given them practice to maintain their own home. They enjoy working on the homes of other Habitat families and they value the financial education they have received while completing their required coursework through Horizons and IVHFH.
Uncertainty of the future weighs heavily on Amir and Insaf. With rising rental rates and no guarantee of a lease renewal each year, they do not feel stable or safe. The family was deeply relieved to hear they were accepted to become Habitat homeowners. Construction of their new, energy-efficient home is underway in Iowa City and will be complete in the summer allowing the family to move in just before a new school year starts. Insaf is thankful for the Habitat homeownership program. Along with her family, she wants to encourage the community to do more to help low-income people to improve their situation. Insaf says, "With people helping and working together, Habitat can help more residents and make the community a better place."
Hieba is Amir and Insaf’s oldest child. She is 14 years old and a freshman. She is excited because she will have her own space in a room that she will not have to share with her two younger brothers. She explains that when her parents become homeowners, her family will feel more stable and they will know their surroundings more intimately because they won’t have to go through the difficulties that come with moving to new rental properties every few years. Ayman is 12 and stays busy in many activities including Math Counts, Taekwondo, band, swimming and basketball. The youngest is Mustafa who is 10 years old. Mustafa is in band, orchestra and Taekwondo. He excitedly expressed that his family is “[…] nice, kind, loving, and happy.”
The family of 5 live in a three-bedroom rental home. Built in 1936 with minimal weatherization updates, the home lacks adequate insulation. The second story where one of the bedrooms is located gets too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer. Because of that, the upstairs is only used for storage, thus confining the three children into one shared bedroom. For three school-aged children, the home does not offer any private room or space that would be conducive for studying and completing school work.
For Amir and Insaf, the Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity homeownership program is more than just an opportunity to build and purchase an affordable home. They appreciate the many skills they have learned while completing their sweat equity hours renovating Habitat homes and assisting on new home construction projects. Prior to partnering with Habitat, they had never done anything related to building or construction and they consider the leadership from Habitat staff has given them practice to maintain their own home. They enjoy working on the homes of other Habitat families and they value the financial education they have received while completing their required coursework through Horizons and IVHFH.
Uncertainty of the future weighs heavily on Amir and Insaf. With rising rental rates and no guarantee of a lease renewal each year, they do not feel stable or safe. The family was deeply relieved to hear they were accepted to become Habitat homeowners. Construction of their new, energy-efficient home is underway in Iowa City and will be complete in the summer allowing the family to move in just before a new school year starts. Insaf is thankful for the Habitat homeownership program. Along with her family, she wants to encourage the community to do more to help low-income people to improve their situation. Insaf says, "With people helping and working together, Habitat can help more residents and make the community a better place."
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Advocacy for our mission is an important part of the Habitat for Humanity Homeowner program. Did you know that Iowa City ranks 4th in the nation for volunteer engagement? Amir and Insaf participated in the KCRG news story.
Amir and Insaf have gained hundreds of sweat-equity hours by assisting the ReStore staff, working with their daughter and summer youth groups at our HabLab warehouse complex, as well as building several homes! |
Volunteer
Every volunteer makes a difference. Whether you are an experienced carpenter or a novice, you are welcome. |
Donate
Every donation provides an opportunity to build a stronger, more stable, self-reliant future. |
ReStore
Every customer, donor and volunteer helps us build. Income from the ReStore supports our affordable housing efforts. |
