“There’s a real sense of pride that comes with being a homeowner and I am so incredibly grateful to be able to take on that role at this point in my life” Elizabeth Wishteyah claimed as she stepped foot inside her new home for the first time.

This moment marks a major milestone for Elizabeth, who is now the first member of her family to own her own home and the last of 36 families who have moved into Sierra Vista III, our affordable housing community for low-income families.

Elizabeth first heard about Habitat for Humanity Yuba/Sutter when her friend had shared one of our brochures with her.

“It was on my refrigerator for the longest time, and every time that friend called, they kept asking ‘Have you checked out Habitat for Humanity yet?’ and so one day I finally decided to get up and go there” Elizabeth said.

During that first visit, Elizabeth filled out and submitted an application for a house in our Sierra Vista III development. Within a week, her application had been approved and she received the good news that she was on the road to becoming a homeowner.

After months of racking up her volunteer hours and awaiting construction to finalize, on December 21, 2023, Elizabeth was handed the keys to her new home. “I didn’t think I was going to be here until the new year, so it really feels like the ultimate Christmas gift” she said. According to Elizabeth, her daughter Sophie was bummed that they might not get to set up a tree for Christmas, but since their family is moving into a bigger space right before the holidays, Elizabeth was able to buy a tree for them to decorate together.

Aside from getting to share holiday memories with her mom, Sophie is also excited to get to pick out her very own bedroom and play with other kids at Humanity Park, which is within walking distance to their new home. As for Elizabeth, she mentioned that the HVAC system in her new home is a gamechanger for her because their previous residency only had a swamp cooler. She is also looking forward to setting up their own garden in their backyard and decorating the inside of their home with plenty of houseplants. More than anything, Elizabeth is grateful that she has a safe, quiet neighborhood for her family to thrive in and can’t wait for all of the wonderful memories they create in their new home.

All it took was one brochure, one trip, and one application to transform Elizabeth’s life for the better. While there’s always a great amount of uncertainty and anticipation that comes with applying for homeownership, this story is a testament that with right opportunity, initiative, and work ethic – nothing is impossible. We’d like to thank everyone who contributed towards the Sierra Vista III project and once again we’d love to wish the Wishteyah family a warm welcome home!