Two Habitat Families Move into Renaissance on the Park Neighborhood

For Ryan and Kierstin, and their four children – Dayne, 12; Xander, 10; Serenity, 8; and Kellen, 6 – moving from a small apartment to a four-bedroom home is a dream come true.

“Since Dayne was born we have moved over 10 times and have lived in four different school districts since he started school. We needed to so we could afford housing, and Ryan could to commute to his jobs,” Kierstin explained. “In 2012, Kellen tested positive for elevated lead levels during a routine test done on toddlers. Our landlord at the time made no attempts to fix it, so we needed to move again.”

“Getting a house through Habitat means so much for our family. It means that all four kids won’t all have to share a room for the first time ever. It means stability and the kids not having to worry about moving to yet another school. It means all of us being able to establish lasting friendships, and connections, with in our community,” Kierstin said.

The next soon-to-be Habitat homeowner, Ana, who works as a Setup Technician at a plastic manufacturing company, moved to Madison in 2001 from her native Costa Rica. Currently Ana is living with another family, renting a room in their apartment and looking forward to having a place of her own.

“From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping individuals and families be successful and reach for their dreams,” Ana said.

The homes, sponsored by Blackhawk Church, The University of Wisconsin Habitat Chapter, and the Habitat Young Professionals of Dane County, will mark the 280th and 281st Habitat homes build in Dane County and the 20th and 21st homes built in the Renaissance on the Park neighborhood.

Three more Habitat homes are currently under construction in Renaissance on the Park and 10 more are planned for the future.

During the home building process, Habitat homeowners spend hundreds of hours on the construction site building their home. Prior to breaking ground on Ryan and Kierstin’s home, members of Blackhawk Church built the home frame in their parking lot. The frame was then moved over to its permanent location in Fitchburg.

“These two families have put in a lot of hard work and “sweat equity” hours to make their dreams of homeownership possible,” said Valerie Renk, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Dane County. “We are grateful to Blackhawk Church, The University of Wisconsin Habitat Chapter, and the Habitat Young Professionals of Dane County for sponsoring Ana’s and Ryan and Kierstin’s homes and making their dreams come true.”

Since 1987 Habitat for Humanity of Dane County has been building in partnership with low- to moderate-income families in 18 different communities throughout Dane County. Currently Habitat is building in Madison, Sun Prairie and Fitchburg.

For more information, read the full story on Channel 3000.