“They just kept showing up.” That’s how Rosa — name changed for privacy — describes the volunteers who helped her reclaim a life she once feared was beyond repair.
For more than two decades, Rosa had lived in her home — a modest house on a quiet street, full of memories and weathered edges. But when illness, job loss, and depression struck in close succession, time inside those walls seemed to grind to a halt. “I’ve basically been in hibernation for ten years,” she told us. Her backyard — once filled with birds and ivy — had become a tangle of overgrowth. Her kitchen floor was cracked and dangerous. Her furnace had stopped working altogether.
And yet, asking for help felt harder than enduring the cold. “I was embarrassed,” she admitted. “I didn’t think I deserved it.”
But then, she made one call. And that’s where the story turns. 
A Quiet Transformation
The first to arrive was Laura and John from our Critical Home Repair team, responding to Rosa’s desperate need for heat. Then came our Service Team for Exterior Projects with volunteers ready to tackle the backyard Rosa had long given up on. “I didn’t even want help with it,” she said. “But they saw what I couldn’t.”
Over the weeks that followed, a diverse crew showed up. Again and again. Rosa loved getting to know all the folks helping fix her home. “They were punctual. Kind. Not here to judge — just here to help.”
Together, they restored her furnace. Rebuilt her crumbling kitchen floor. Installed a new sliding door to replace one that hadn’t opened in years. They trimmed ivy that had overtaken her home and cleared away clutter with care. “It’s like Feng Shui now,” Rosa laughed. “Everything’s flowing again.”
A Reset, Not Just a Renovation
What began as repairs became something deeper. Rosa, who had once hidden inside while volunteers worked, was soon climbing onto her roof to clear the gutters. “I started caring again,” she said.
She laid out cold drinks and watermelon for the volunteers. Remembered each of their names. Found herself laughing, talking — even inviting people inside, something that once filled her with shame.
“I wanted to call it off. I was overwhelmed. But now I look around and think: This is mine. And I want to be proud of it again.” 
Why We Share These Stories
This is not just a story about home repair. It’s about dignity. Safety. Agency. It’s about people, like Rosa, who — with a little support — begin to believe in their own worth again. When you support Habitat, you’re not just fixing doors and floors — you’re restoring hope.
“They weren’t just fixing things,” Rosa told us. “They were giving me my life back.” 
Know someone who could use help with their home? Refer them to our team: 801-263-0136 ex. 211
