A year ago, Duffy was dreaming of the peace she and her children would soon find in their new Habitat home. Volunteering alongside neighbors, her excitement grew with her construction skills. As her family’s home at Century Commons took shape, Duffy and her family’s future came into view. Her kids had already picked out their rooms, and Duffy felt hopeful. 

“I feel like there’s a lot of peace in our future,” she told us in this March 2025 blog.

Today, Duffy and her family are enjoying the peace she dreamed of a year ago. Her three children have their own rooms; a much-needed change, she says.  

“Having a place to call their own, where they can retreat and recharge — they really need that.” 

A space of their own

With two elementary and one middle-school-aged kids, personal space is in high demand. For the past two years, Duffy and her kids made the most of a temporary housing setup in her friend’s ADU. With area rentals unaffordable for a single mom working in education, Duffy says she was incredibly grateful for her friend’s support.  

But sharing a small space without running water between the four of them had its challenges. The memory of carrying dishes to the main house through rain for over a year makes the conveniences of her new home feel even more wonderful. 

“Having my own bathroom again, and not having to walk in the rain, is amazing,” Duffy says. 

“Becoming a homeowner feels surreal. I’m just really grateful. I look at the housing prices in the area; it was just so out of reach that it feels so good to attain it. I still can’t believe I’m a homeowner.” 

The family moved into their four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath home in December. Duffy kept the move-in date a surprise for her kids, quietly preparing their new home while they were away for the first part of winter break. She says they were overjoyed to come to their new home, running through the rooms in disbelief. 

Their home is full of life and personality, from mementos on the walls to Rocket, the family dog brimming with energy. Looking around, you see a family rediscovering the joy of having their own space. If you look even deeper, you can also see a beautiful community forming. 

Shortly after moving in, Duffy was setting up a bunk bed for her son when she realized she was missing a tool she needed to finish the job. She called a neighbor she had met while completing volunteer hours together. She only asked to borrow his saw, but he came over and finished the project alongside Duffy and her son.   

Thanks to the connections Duffy made last year, she already has a community of supportive neighbors built in. Grabbing her mail, she recognizes familiar faces. When neighbors have questions, they consult their group chat for quick support. And on Sundays, her kids head to the neighborhood playground to see new friends. 

“It’s a warm and friendly place. I feel like people are very hospitable and helpful,” Duffy says. 

Finding ownership in decor

While the frenzy of organizing and furnishing a new home on top of raising three kids isn’t what some would call peaceful, their newfound sense of permanence is. 

“I’ve rented my whole life and have seriously looked at housing for the last two decades, but it has always just been out of reach,” Duffy says. Achieving her dream of homeownership and becoming a Habitat homeowner was something she never imagined.  

“Getting into the program was like a dream. I feel very fortunate.”  

Over spring break, Duffy is helping her kids paint colorful accent walls in their rooms — making Pinterest boards with each of them and planning unique designs.  

“I’ve never lived in a place where we can paint the walls,” she says. “It feels good to have that choice and make it our own. It’s super special.” 

Duffy says her kids have enjoyed working together as a family on decorating their new space. 

“It’s been really empowering for them: getting their opinions on things, and helping build furniture, it feels like they can really own it.”  

Rewriting and rebuilding