Searching for Safety, Stability, and Independence
Courtney’s homeownership journey has had its fair share of ups and downs.
“We’ve been through a lot,” she says, “We’ve moved a lot.”
Courtney, a single mom who grew up in Colorado Springs, has for many years been constantly looking for more stable housing for her and her three kids, including twin teenage boys and a daughter in her senior year of high school.
The family has bounced around many times in search of safety, stability, and independence, finding themselves caught up in “various situations and things” along the way – euphemisms for the unpleasant environments they often find themselves in.
“Nothing ever really was set in stone with us,” she recounted. “I think being independent as a family is huge. And having somewhere permanent is huge.”
While Courtney continued to struggle to establish “something permanent” for her and her family, she never gave up. “I work two to three jobs at a time,” she explained, elaborating that she currently works full time at a national retail chain arranging their displays, graphics, and mannequins, while moonlighting as a respite caregiver for a patient with autism. “I’m CPR certified and had to undergo special training,” she said proudly.
Finally Getting a Green Light
Courtney found out about Pikes Peak Habitat’s affordable homeownership program four years ago when she was approached about it by close family members. They had heard about the program through a member of their local car club.
Courtney decided to apply.
She would not be accepted into the program that first year, nor the following year. However, Courtney never gave up, and she continued applying for the program. After her third try, she finally received the good news that she would be a Habitat homeowner.
“I was in disbelief. It took me a minute to digest that that’s what actually happened” she said with excitement, staring wide-eyed at the table and smiling as she replayed the memory of being accepted. “Coming from a place with a lot of no’s, getting a yes was crazy.”
Despite receiving official confirmation of her selection from Pikes Peak Habitat staff, she kept the news secret from her kids as if telling them too early would disqualify her and cause their dream to get pulled out from underneath them.
“I wanted to make sure it was a real green light – I didn’t want to get their hopes up,” she said. “I just had to be sure. I waited till the first [homeowner class] in January before I told my kids.”
Once the kids received the news, however, they were ecstatic.
“They thought I was kidding,” she remembered with a smile, “They are super excited. They can’t wait. We’ve never had our own place, so this is very exciting.”
An additional benefit of Courtney’s new home is that it will be just minutes from their current living situation, allowing for some continuity in her children’s lives. “They can stay in the same sports, have the same friends – that’s why this house was a huge blessing,” she explains. “My daughter’s high school is right there. She gets to live in the house for a year before she leaves for college.”
Making Fateful Connections
Since being selected as a homebuyer, Courtney has been volunteering frequently at the ReStore Northeast location in Colorado Springs to help satisfy the required 200 hours of “sweat equity” that Pikes Peak Habitat partner families contribute towards their home or their community.
“I love volunteering at the ReStore,” she gushes. “Anything I do [the ReStore employees] are grateful and they always say, ‘Thank you so much.’ People need places like the ReStore to be able to shop and go to.”
While volunteering at the ReStore, Courtney introduced herself to two fellow volunteers – Art and Laurel. The three of them became fast friends and found working together enjoyable. “They are wonderful. Even before I knew who they were. They’ve taught me a lot in the little time I’ve been there as a volunteer.”
One day, Courtney told the pair that she was a future Habitat homeowner. Art and Laurel congratulated her – they had no idea she had been accepted into the program. Then she told them that her home was selected as the George Hammond Build. At this news, they broke down into tears.
Art and Laurel explained that they were in fact joint recipients of the George Hammond Award, an award created by Pikes Peak Habitat to honor the legacy, service, and outstanding contributions of longtime volunteer George Hammond, and that Courtney’s home had been built in their name. They were also to be recognized for the award at her home dedication.
“Art came in – we were building something,” she recounted about one of the times they worked together before they were aware of the connection, “he was drilling holes and zip-tying things… We were building something and he was like, ‘Let me help you.’ They’ve taught me a lot in the little time I’ve been there as a volunteer.”
The fateful connections didn’t stop there. Courtney also realized that she wasn’t the first person in her family to have ties with Habitat for Humanity.
“My granddaddy in Florida was on the Habitat board in his community for years and years and years and I didn’t even know,” Courtney explained.
Her granddaddy would be happy to know that, after suffering so many setbacks and hardships, dealing with uncertainty and being stuck in a “place with a lot of no’s,” his granddaughter, along with his great grandchildren, finally broke through. They finally got their yes. They finally got their independence. And they finally got their place to call home.
“I think being independent as a family is huge. And having somewhere permanent is huge.”
About the 4th George Hammond Build — Honoring Laurel and Art Thorstensen
The George Hammond Award was created by the Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors in April 2018 to honor the legacy, extraordinary service, and outstanding contributions of longtime volunteer George Hammond.
The George Hammond Award honors individuals who, through their tireless service to Pikes Peak Habitat, have exhibited qualities of leadership, an unwavering belief in Habitat’s ministry, and a deep devotion and passion to serve the community and people of El Paso County, CO.
The 4th George Hammond Home will be constructed in The Ridge at Sand Creek development and dedicated in honor of Laurel and Art Thorstensen.
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