The home is an important anchor for a family, but not every family has access to safe and stable housing. For nearly 25 years, Emmanuel and Onga have been living as refugees. They are among thousands of families who fled their homes in Congo due to armed conflict, violence, and instability.  

After fleeing their home in Congo, Emmanuel and Onga lived as refugees in Burundi for 23 years. There, they faced many challenges, including limited access to food for their growing family, poor working conditions, and low pay.   

“In Africa, you can go to work and [receive] no money, but here [in America] we work, and we receive money,” said Emmanuel.  

After decades of instability and uncertainty, their move to the United States marked the beginning of a new chapter. When Emmanuel and Onga arrived in 2023, they came with only the clothes on their backs, their children, and a handful of belongings. They arrived at a modestly furnished apartment and spent their first few weeks gathering essential household items and learning how to navigate life in America.

Emmanuel and Onga currently live in a three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment with their four kids: Joseph, Orly, Elizabeth, and Gael. While they are grateful for the space they have, the apartment feels increasingly tight as their daughter grows older and continues to share a bedroom with her younger brother. 

For Emmanuel and Onga, the process to establish a life in America has been 25 years in the making. To them, a home is more than just a place to live. It is a place to be blessed, shared, and celebrated. In the Congolese tradition, moving into a new house begins with inviting the community in for prayer, followed by a gathering with food and dancing as a way of thanking God for His provision.   

There were times when the safety of their own home seemed like a distant dream, and neither of them could have imagined that they would soon be homeowners on American soil. Emmanuel and Onga first learned about Habitat for Humanity through a member of their church, Clint, who thought that they would be competitive applicants and encouraged them to apply for the program.  

Reflecting on the program, Onga said, “There’s no challenge here [in the program] because help is a gift, and since it’s been given, we have to make an effort. We need all kinds of people.”  

Though Emmanuel and Onga have worked hard to attend classes and be a part of the construction site, what moves them most are the people who came alongside them to build their home. They remember the day of their home dedication as one of the happiest days in the program.   

Now, Emmanuel and Onga are waiting to move into their new home and close on their mortgage. They are so excited that they often drive by the construction site to see the progress on their future home. 

For so long, they dreamed of a stable home where they could raise their family without worrying about their safety. Thanks to their decision to partner with Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County, that dream is becoming a reality.