New Habitat home blessed in Cape
Under ordinary circumstances, Eva Fisher wouldn’t have had a prayer being able to buy her own home.
With two children with autism and having to give them constant care, home ownership seemed impossible, and renting was even becoming more of a challenge.
Thanks to Habitat for Human-ity, the impossible became possible, and on Saturday, Habitat dedicated her home, as well as another in San Carlos Park, to climax the annual Women Build initiative.
When you consider Fisher’s story, it made sense for Habitat to accept her immediately.
“We were bouncing from house to house and couldn’t find a stable home with my daughter’s aggressive behavior and banging her head and disturbing other tenants,” Fisher said. “I was in shock when I was accepted. I tried to apply for different housing, and kept getting turned down. Habitat came through and has been there every step of the way.”
It was a hard road. Fisher had to put in 300 hours of sweat equity, come up with $1,700 in closing costs and take classes in home ownership. With her mother helping her out, it became a team effort.
And with Women Build on site, with so many volunteers helping out, they gave her plenty to do.
“I learned so much from working with Habitat. I installed baseboard and tile, I painted inside and outside, and that was the gist of it,” Fisher said.
The reward came Saturday, when Fisher received the keys to their home, a refurbished one in the Northwest Cape, along with the traditional Bible, American flag, doorknocker, cleaning supplies from Proctor & Gamble, and some food from the Harry Chapin Food Bank.
Alicia Barrett, Women Build coordinator, said it was great to give back being a mother of four kids herself, especially on Mother’s Day weekend.
“It’s incredible to see the funds being raised to where we are now. We had more than 140 volunteers in Cape Coral who put in 550 hours of time,” Barrett said.
“Today, though, it’s all about Eva.”
Fisher spoke a few words, thanking everybody who helped her on her journey, while getting choked up a few times.
Becky Sanders-Lucas, vice president of community outreach, said Women Build once again exceeded expectations, adding that for children with autism, stability is crucial. This home will give them that stability they desperately need for their physical and mental health.
“We raised the $100,000 to rehab the two homes and the real exciting thing is the children are seeing the home for the first time,” Sanders-Lucas said. “This will provide a safe and healthy environment for them to grow up. This is why Women Build exists. To help mothers like her who needed a hand up. She now has a support system that will be with her the rest of her life.”
Fisher remains a full-time mother who has to take her children to therapy.
With the home, it will allow her to go back to school for occupational therapy so she can help them more.