Two families received keys to their homes Sunday in Vancouver

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

Even the impossible is possible when the community joins together for a common purpose.

That was a message Sunday when Evergreen Habitat for Humanity handed over the keys to two homes to two single women and their children.

Karla Alvarado Martinez described the idea of home ownership as impossible. She used the word six times in just a couple of minutes.

Her daughters, Clarissa and Maria Elsa, had told her that they hoped one day they could have a home of their own.

Karla said that would be impossible because it is so expensive. 

They asked her to fill out the application form with Habitat for Humanity. She did, even though she said, again, it is impossible.

Nothing is out of reach if one works for it, though.

Since moving to America from Nicaragua six years ago, Karla has worked three jobs, volunteered, learned English, and earned her citizenship.

On Sunday, she received the keys to her new home.

“The Habitat community, the people, they are amazing people,” Karla said. “They are for me, for my daughters, they are our family, too. I don’t have the words to say thank you.”

Nikki Goodman and her son Everett received their keys to the home next door to Karla’s home.

“This process has been so wonderful,” Nikki said. “Everyone has been so great.”

She said none of this would be possible without all the volunteers associated with Habitat for Humanity.

“I appreciate every single one of you. We appreciate this very much,” she said.

In fact, Sunday was the first day of National Volunteer Week. 

These two Habitat for Humanity homes that opened Sunday are the fourth and fifth in a neighborhood of nine Habitat homes in east Vancouver. The first three families moved in recently. And four more families are expected to move in by the end of the summer.

In all, 315 volunteers have contributed 10,254 hours to the Johnson Village subdivision. The area is named for Ray and Harriet Johnson, the founders of the Evergreen affiliate of Habitat for Humanity.

The homes featured Sunday were funded by the organization’s Women Build Program and Faith Build Program.

The women’s build emphasizes women builders and women in trade, working to build homes for other women.

The faith build recognizes the importances of bringing together any and all faiths from Clark County, to work toward a common goal.

Habitat for Humanity does not give away homes. Those who receive homes apply, must qualify, and work the program. They do pay a mortgage, but it is affordable housing. The cost is 35 percent of one’s income.

Cameron and Stephanie Davis and their son Liam received the keys to their home in February. They were there Sunday to welcome their new neighbors, although they’ve known each other quite a while, going through the Habitat for Humanity process.

Cameron Davis said he is amazed at a group of people working together with nothing to gain monetarily for themselves, but to lend a helping hand, a hand up, to hard-working folks who just could not get over the obstacle of home ownership.

He, too, mentioned that crushing feeling of not being able to reach the goal of home ownership.

“By the time you save up 40K (for the down payment), it’s 60K. When you’re only making 50, 60K a year, it’s an impossible ask,” he said. “They make it possible for folks like us. It’s a beautiful thing.”

The home is one thing. The meaning is so much more.

“It does a lot more than give a roof over your head,” Davis said. “It builds confidence.”

After Sunday’s ceremony to hand over the keys, both families went in to see their finished new homes for the first time.

“This is a wish that is coming true,” Karla said.

“It’s otherworldly,” Nikki said. “I’m very grateful, very emotional. It’s more than I imagined.”