Evergreen Habitat for Humanity dedicated two new houses Sunday afternoon, handing over the keys to new homes and new chapters in the lives of two single mothers and their families.
Dakota Palmore and Tiffany Hauxhurst will move into their new three-bedroom homes in the Father Blanchet Park neighborhood of Vancouver after years of applications and construction.
Palmore helped with building, as all Habitat recipients do, but also with the larger organization.
“A lot of it would be like bingo night. I’d come out and read the numbers for bingo. Barbecues, events, anything that they’re doing with Habitat events,” she said. “But mostly building.”
Her sons, 21-year-old Ray and 4-year old Keavee, will join her, and they’re all elated.
“To be here, I’m just so excited,” she said. “In the beginning, it seems like it’s going to happen really quick, and then you realize you need to be patient.”
Finding stable housing has been a challenge, and Palmore has been sharing a room with her youngest, but now he’ll have his own room and space to be himself.
“He needs his space as I need my space, so it’s going to be a little change or him, adjusting to his own room, but I’m sure he’s going to love it,” she said.
Along with ample volunteer help, the Geometry in Construction classes at the Evergreen Public School contributed to the new homes’ construction. The program, at Mountain View and Evergreen high schools, allows students to earn math credit while getting practical experience in home building.
The two homes join others built and planned to be built on a cul-de-sac of all Habitat homes.
Hauxhurst is moving in with her boys Taylor, 12, Carson, 7, and Greyson, 2 years old.
“It feels good. It’s a lot of hard work. You don’t realize how much it takes,” she said, recalling her first days putting in the “sweat equity” required of Habitat for Humanity house recipients.
“Snow, rain and ice. I remember when I first started at one of their (other) locations. it was so cold I was wearing a face mask.”
Her boys are excited for the change of setting, if a little nervous at the same time, she said.
“I mean, they love it. When they saw it, they were like, ‘It looks so good!’ ” she said.
Both women said that they look forward to having gardens and doing yardwork.
“Plus, like, maybe having block parties in the future, when everybody gets settled in,” Palmore said.
