Debra, Alissa and Josh will soon have their dream home.

In 2007 Debra and her two grandchildren (Alissa, 7, and Joshua, 11) found themselves homeless at Thanksgiving.  They had moved to Denver from South Carolina just nine months prior for a good job opportunity, which unfortunately had disappeared.  Without a support system in Colorado, Debra turned to a school liaison for some guidance. She suggested the Almost Home shelter in Brighton, Colorado.

Debra took her grandchildren to Almost Home and got set up in their shelter where she stayed for about 2 months before being moved into a subsidized apartment.  Almost Home also allowed Debra to enroll in a two semester class to update her work skills and get work experience through an internship. The internship led Debra to Mile High United Way’s finance department, and ultimately a full-time position in 2009 as a call center specialist in United Way’s 2-1-1.  She now connects other families and individuals to health and human services when they are in need. 

Because of Debra’s steady pay check from Mile High United Way she was able to qualify for a Habitat for Humanity house in the fall of 2010.  She was encouraged to also open an Individual Development Account or IDA to use as additional down payment, which she did just a few months later.  (IDAs are matched savings accounts that allow qualified participants to save for their first home, higher education or to start or build their own business)

Debra, Alissa and Josh’s house will begin construction this summer.  And, Debra says she’s eager to pitch in for what she knows is their dream come true.

 “This will be a place to stay forever and never have to move again. We will finally have a yard, somewhere safe my grandchildren can play.”