Over the years of our affiliation, we have helped dozens of families pull through tough times to find happiness in a new home that they can call their own.

Some of these families were willing to share their story:

This I Believe - By the son of a Habitat Homeowner

I believe that the most important gift you can give to someone is kindness. I believe that if you show somebody kindness they will be kind to someone else and so on and so on. Kindness is a great thing to all people. If there was no kindness in the world then all we would have is evil. I believe that kindness is what helps prevent fights and wars. I believe that kindness can be shown to anyone at any time at any level, what I mean by level is you could hold a door for someone or give them a ride somewhere. Kindness, in my opinion, is one if not the most important gift that you can show or give to somebody, and unlike a toy from a store this gift will not be out dated in a few weeks or months, it will not break, and it will not lose its effect after time. The meaning to kindness to me is a little different from other people’s definition.  I believe that if you change the hearts of the people you can change your town and maybe even the world. I believe that kindness is like a wheel in motion, it just keeps coming around and it will never stop. I believe that every single person can be part of it, everyone can help with spreading kindness to the whole world. I believe that a little kindness goes a long way. People sometimes say that some people are just angry and I say that if you are nice enough and long enough then they will give in some time and they might be nice to someone else. One statement that I will stand by is that a little kindness goes a long way. I believe that 100 percent, if you show a little kindness to someone you may not know it but they might show it to someone else. Kindness is something that I try to show to everyone that I come across everyday in my life. That is why I believe that kindness is the most important gift that you can show to someone.

The Serjeant Family - 2007

How has Habitat affected our lives?

Back in September of 2005 we would never have imagined that 3 years later we would be living in a home that was built with so much love and compassion from so many people around us. As both my wife and I have say, we have to give glory to God first and then all those associated with Habitat second. Because the foundation of Habitat is showing love and mercy for those that are in such great need and for those looking for shelter and comfort but have no way to obtain it.

It is difficult to pare down our story, but I will do the best that I can.

In late 2005, through unforeseen circumstances, we became homeless. It was a shock to say the least. One minute we’re on the West Coast in the little town of Snohomish Washington tending horses and cows, the next thing we know were in Larimer Pennsylvania and before long, we’re living in a car wondering how are we going to eat and how are we going to survive the cold winter? In 2-1/2 short months we went from a nice warm house with friends and family and good meals to wondering how we’re going survive the winter in Pennsylvania out of a 4-door compact car with no one to help us. Fortunately, we were only living in our car for about 4 days.

How did we find out about Habitat? Through Allegheny Valley Association of Churches in Natrona Heights (an umbrella organization for Habitat in the Allegheny Valley area). We were in a homeless program called the IHN (Inter-Faith Hospitality Program) that helps people get off the streets and obtain permanent housing. Through Dr. Legge, who ministers at the Bull Creek Presbyterian Church we were able to be considered for a Habitat house.

In the Spring of 2006 we were living in a transitional house in Arnold and is where we found out that we were accepted for a Habitat house and both my wife and I just cried on each others shoulders. Yes, it was an emotional moment and one I will never be ashamed to tell others. But it was a blessing that is never forgotten.

In the winter of 2006 we began working on other Habitat families homes before ours but it was exciting too. And then came the Summer of 2007, when they began to work on our home. I thought it was exciting to work on others, but did not realize how special it was when it came to our own home. Sometimes I would just step back and look at all those people, the volunteers, people such as all of you today that are taking the time to listen to the reading of this letter, and just shed a tear. How can so many people care so much for someone they do not know? People coming from many different places to help others? I know if it wasn’t for all those people taking the time out of their lives, this house would not exist.

And today, wherever we go in our home we can almost see people working, painting, hanging drywall, pounding nails and the like. You see a flaw in the house somewhere, sometimes it’s a nail or a strange bump in the wall, or the “interesting” paint on the walls and such, and you can almost see the people working. And we are thankful and most grateful for that.

So what does the Habitat house mean to me or us? Love and compassion. Love – because the love that we see everyone display when they arrive to help others. Compassion – because of the compassion that everyone showers on others when they hear a story and then take the time to drive many many miles out of their way to pick up a hammer or drive a nail or clean a house.

I believe we are all just a moment away from being homeless. Some say we’re just a paycheck away, but I think truly, that it’s much much closer than that. I can’t go into all the details of our life and how it all came about from September 2005 until today, I’d need much more of your time. But you could lose your job, the apartment/dorm building you live in could be destroyed by fire, you could lose all your financial means and then you too could be without a home. So all I want to leave you with today is that there was a time in our past when we saw the words Habitat for Humanity or saw someone on an Ad or something like that, and we would say “it would be good to help those people” and then either that would be it or we’d send a donation. But please consider, yes the money is good it does help Habitat, but without the volunteers – Habitat could not survive. There is not a board that can be cut, or a nail be driven or a shingle be placed on the roof or a speck of paint put on a wall unless there is a person there to first pick up the tool to do it. And I know that person is sitting right in the room, because if it wasn’t you wouldn’t be here.

And finally, God has been good to our family, not because of the material things such as the house, although this house is like a mansion to us and we are truly blessed to be purchasing it, but it is the “true” friends that God has placed in our lives through our affiliation with Habitat that is the real blessing. Put your trust in Him and He will never leave you nor forsake you.

And lastly, thank you for listening. There are many many more families that are in need of kind folks such as you. The house is only the beginning.

God Bless and in Christ,

Dale, Abby and our son Erik

To view an album on the Serjeant house click here.

View the Serjeant family in the news.
February 2010
Winter 2008
November 2007
October 2007