Tiger 8 is our eighth build with Tech High School in St. Cloud. The students at the high school built the upper portion of the house during the 2022-23 school year. This partnership with CMHFH helps students prepare for promising careers in the trades. High school students gain experience framing, installing siding, roofing, trim, and cabinetry. College students complete the plumbing and electrical work. As a result, 50+ students exit the program ready to start their careers each year.
Our partner homebuyers, Mahad and Hawa, are excited for their future homeownership. As their family spent many years living apart, having a home where they can all live together is “a dream come true, settled at last.”
Mahad was born in Somalia and Hawa was born in Ethiopia. They met, married, and raised their children together in Somalia until 2011, when Mahad immigrated to the United States. In 2013, the two oldest children joined him, and the family was reunited in 2020 when Hawa and their four younger children moved to Saint Cloud. They have since added another child to their family.
Mahad is an Instructional Paraeducator for District 742, working with students at Talahi elementary.
They currently rent a four-bedroom townhome in a student housing section of the city where they live with their children, ages infant to 17 years old. The children like to play and watch football, soccer, and basketball. As teenagers and preteens, they are looking forward to having space to spread out.
Mahad and Hawa see homeownership as one dream accomplished for their family and look forward to the stability it will provide for their children. Their hope for their children’s future includes a good education, being able to attend college, and achieve independence as adults. The family is looking forward to getting to know their new neighbors and becoming a part of their neighborhood community.
