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Melissa and her three children during the Habitat Opening Ceremony for the Unity House
Melissa with her three children during the Opening Ceremony for the Unity House

Melissa and her three children moved into their new Habitat home, the Unity 2 house, on October 28, 2017. Habitat believes that everyone deserves a decent place to live, a place to call home, to feel safe and create memories. Welcome home Melissa – we hope this new chapter in your life open doors to more opportunity and a brighter future for your children.

“I would like to thank Habitat for Humanity for considering me to be a part of this amazing experience. I added my name to the applicant list in March of 2015,” said Melissa, soon to be a Habitat homeowner.

Melissa has worked at Navajo Elementary for nearly a decade and was referred to GAHH by now retired Assistant Principal Sister Ada Dominguez. “At the time becoming a homeowner seemed like a far reaching dream,” said Melissa.

Melissa with her mentor and daughter during the opening ceremony for the Unity House
Melissa with her daughter and her mentor, Sister Ada Dominguez

It wasn’t easy growing up in a two bedroom home with her parents, sister and three brothers. “My childhood wasn’t the greatest. I now recognize the dysfunction, especially in how we were taught this world ‘was the way it was.’ We didn’t realize there was a whole other world,” says Melissa.

As soon as she turned 18 Melissa was eager to leave home. She was soon pregnant with her first son and knew she wanted to be a better parent and provide a different way of life then how she was raised. Just one year later, her second son Tyree was born. “There were so many struggles and if it were not for the guidance and support from Sister Ada, I don’t know where I would be today,” says Melissa. She met Sister Ada when she was hired at APS more than nine years ago and Sister Ada has mentored and prayed for Melissa every step of the way.

“It is my children who motivate me to be a better person and getting a home of our own is a dream

Unity 2 House almost complete, October 2017

come true,” says Melissa. “All I ever wanted was to provide an environment that was healthy for my children. I’ve been a single working mother since they were babies. It’s not always easy, but I want to make sure my kids have a safe place to call home and build happy memories. I want them to grow up and say they have fond memories of the way they were raised.”

Melissa appreciates this opportunity and she feels blessed to have a Habitat for Humanity home that was built for her and her children. “I think it is very important for my family to have a stable environment. As a Clerk for an elementary school I see how many children struggle with inconsistencies, instability and how it affects their daily lives,” said Melissa. But she no longer has to worry because they have a home of their very own.

Faith Based groups supporting the Unity Project:

Unity House opening ceremony and ground breaking with representatives from one of the sponsors Benai Israel.

Albuquerque Mennonite Church
All Saints Lutheran
Archdiocese of Santa Fe
Blake Road Baptist Church
Canterbury Campus Ministry, UNM
Congregation B’nai Israel
Covenant Presbyterian Church
Del Norte Baptist Church
Family Worship Center
First Christian Church
First Congregational United Church of Christ
First Presbyterian Church
First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque
First United Methodist Church
GOD’s Work, Our Hands
Heights Cumberland Presbyterian Church

Melissa and her three children were welcomed home during the dedication ceremony for the Unity 2 house on October 28, 2017.

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Kadampa Meditation Center, N.M.
Legacy Church
Mesa View United Methodist Church
Monte Vista Christian Church
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church
Our Lady of the Annunciation Catholic Church
Pagan Societies
Rising Sun Christian Community
Sagebrush Community Church
San Gabriel the Archangel Episcopal Church
Shepherd of the Valley Presbyterian Church
St Andrew Presbyterian Church
St Luke Lutheran Church
St Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church
St. Andrew Presbyterian Church
St. Chad’s Episcopal Church
St. John’s United Methodist
St. Joseph on the Rio Grande
St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Eubank Ward
Unitarian Universalist Westside Congregation

 

Melissa’s family in their new Habitat home on October 28, 2017.