Retailers had already been overtaken by Christmas decorations. Aisles were crowded with wrapping paper, blinking lights, and last-minute shoppers rushing to finish their lists before the holiday.  

Amber was on the hunt for Christmas gifts and her weekly groceries when her phone rang.  

She had been accepted into the homeownership program at Habitat for Humanity. Running to her friend in the next aisle, she cried.  

“We got it,” she said. “We did it.”  

For months, her life had felt uncertain. Amber and her children had been living with her father temporarily, and soon after, they found themselves adjusting to cramped apartment living, rising expenses, and the emotional weight of not knowing what comes next for them.  

Around her, shoppers continued moving carts through the store, crossing off holiday errands. For Amber, the moment marked something far bigger than Christmas shopping. It was the first real sign of hope, and that was the best gift she could have received. Soon she would have a home of her own and a community to belong to, and stability might finally be possible again.  

Before applying to Habitat, Amber said she had never experienced housing instability like this before; however, when she found herself paying all the bills independently for the first time in her life, her temporary living arrangements, the financial strain of rent, and limited space for her and her two children, Runa and Onyx, created additional stress.  

Today, housing represents the largest expense for most U.S. households. In recent years, the increase in home prices has significantly outpaced income growth, making it more difficult for people to afford housing, especially single-income households.  

Amber always knew that she wanted to stay in Bloomington as she fell in love with the landscape, art scene, and diverse culture of the town. She knew about the program at Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County for years, and she had already been on the hunt for a way to give back to the community she fell in love with.  

As she was scrolling on Facebook, she discovered that Habitat was accepting new applicants for the program.  

“Applications opened up at the perfect time,” said Amber. “It was life-changing for my family.”  

When Amber began partnering with Habitat, she discovered that the program was not just giving her an opportunity to become a homeowner, but it was preparing her to sustain one. She began taking courses that encouraged her to budget and save, prepared her for a mortgage, and taught her how to take care of her house.  

“They don’t teach that in school,” said Amber.  

Through budgeting classes, mortgage preparation, and home maintenance education, the program prepares future homeowners for long-term stability before they ever receive their keys.  

Being a part of the Habitat homeownership program has redefined Amber’s definition of a neighbor. She enjoys building strong bonds with other Habitat families, sharing their struggles, growth, and accomplishments. Before, Amber thought a neighbor was someone who engaged in casual hellos and surface-level interactions, but now, she has developed new friendships and dependence on her Habitat community.  

To Amber, a home means stability, hard work, and security. Habitat has given her family something hopeful to work toward.  

“Home to us is hard work and dedication, and also a place for us to be a family.”  

She hopes to teach her children that when they pursue opportunities with their whole heart, at the right time, the right opportunities will come their way and be a foundation for a stronger future.  

As Amber prepares to begin building alongside other Habitat families, her children are already imagining what their future rooms will look like. Runa hopes to paint her room shades of blue, while her son, Onyx, dreams of creating a black-and-white room of his own.  

For Amber, paint colors represent permanence, stability, and the opportunity to finally create a place that belongs to her family.  

As she looks ahead to the beginning stages of construction, Amber says she is most excited to see the foundation of the house come together. Seeing the foundation come together will mean that her family has finally achieved stability.  

Through Habitat, Amber found more than an affordable path to homeownership. She found a foundation her family can continue building on for years to come.