Family moves into Habitat for Humanity home

Not every homeowner can describe precisely what the frame of their home looks like, but Adjele can.  
 
That's because she picked up a hammer to help build her new duplex home from the ground up. With the help of Habitat for Humanity and volunteers from Exact Sciences and Findorff, Adjele framed up her home and put in 400 hours of sweat equity to her own and others’ Habitat projects. At a recent ceremony, she got the keys to the Madison, Wisconsin-area home she worked so hard for.  
 
Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit on a mission to ensure that everyone has a decent place to live. The organization provides opportunities for affordable housing to families in need by allowing homeowners to help build their own residences.  
 
“I am so excited to see my son building friendships and playing with kids in the neighborhood,” Adjele says. “I moved to Madison in 2008 from West Africa. ... We always dreamed of having a house.” 
 
The program not only gave her an opportunity at homeownership, but it was a chance to show her son the value of having dreams and working hard.  
 
“I want to show my son that hard work pays off when you want something that means a lot to you,” Adjele shares. “I am so happy that we will be stable and will not have to move again, and that we are safe.” 
 
Dio found himself in a similar position, working with Habitat to build the other side of the duplex home for his family. He walked in his front door at the dedication ceremony surrounded by family and friends and optimistic for the new beginning.  
 
After a family puts in the work to help build a home, they buy it from Habitat on a zero-interest mortgage. “With renting costs increasing, having our own place with enough rooms, a yard where we can have a swing set and host friends for dinner, is a sign of stability and independence,” he says. 
 
As a father of three boys, Dio’s biggest life challenge was the loss of his wife. Moving into a new home was a massive step for his family’s stability. “I know that she will be happy knowing that our sons and I became homeowners.”  
 
To many, a new home can mean a fresh start. For these new neighbors, homeownership signifies stability and demonstrates what a dream — and a bit of sweat equity — can accomplish.  
 
Read more about the initial building efforts hosted in summer 2023 at Exact Sciences. Team members receive 16 hours of time off for volunteering each year to help support their communities.