Juli Strand's story
Juli and her daughters Tia, Taylor, and Brooke lived in a small apartment. Juli worked on her 200 hours of required sweat equity (volunteer work with Habitat and in the community) and recently went back to get recertified as a nursing assistant. She previously worked almost 14 years in St. Cloud doing accounting work. Her oldest daughter, Tia , also worked to fulfill the 200 hour sweat equity requirement. She and her mother worked on a variety of projects including a golf tournament fundraiser, helping Central MN Habitat for Humanity to move, and bake sales. In addition to completing her sweat equity, Tia works at Clearwater Travel Plaza. She loves working there, but wants to attend St. Cloud Technical and Community College as soon as she has saved enough money.
Juli first heard about Habitat for Humanity when her church, Living Waters Lutheran Church, was looking for volunteers. Juli signed up to volunteer on a build site and had a blast, but never considered that she may be eligible for a home.
Juli decided to apply for a home December 2009/January 2010 and was happily surprised to be notified that she was chosen to be a partner family. When she received the call she was expecting to hear that her application was chosen to move forward in the application process. When she realized that the call was to say she was approved to purchase a home through Habitat, she began to cry. Because she never cries, her daughters rushed in to see what was wrong. When she told them that they were getting a home they all reacted with great excitement. Tia screamed and looked shocked, Taylor did a happy dance, and Brooke immediately began talking about what her room would be like.
Juli and her daughters have looked forward to living in their own home for some time. They were most excited about having more space and a stable place to call their own. Juli is well aware of the responsibilities of a homeowner and feels a little nervous about the financial tasks of homeownership. In spite of her nervousness, Juli is mostly excited and very thankful for her home. She says that the volunteers who are making this a possibility are welcome to come over anytime and that she can't think of words that begin to express the gratitude she feels to everyone for their part in bringing her family a home. Juli and her family moved into their home in December of 2010.