Kinini Jegeno and Family

It's like a dream," says Kinini Jegeno, of becoming a Habitat homeowner.

But before he, wife Zemzem and daughter Hiree moved to their new home in Woodbury, life for the Jegeno family could fairly be described as a nightmare.

Living in a damp, cramped and mold—infested basement apartment in St. Paul, their young daughter's health began to fail. Hiree developed severe asthma that required regular use of a nebulizer, and her parents were rushing her to the emergency room nearly every single day.

"I knew I needed to find affordable housing where my family could get settled and become healthy," says Kinini.

An internet search led him to Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, and on their second application round the Jegeno family received the good news for which they had been waiting—a new home in Woodbury would soon be theirs.

Now five years old, Hiree's health has improved dramatically since moving into the Habitat home two and a half years ago. Kinini and Zemzem only have to bring her to the emergency room once or twice a year now when seasonal changes—and not dampness or mold in her home environment—cause her asthma to flare.

And more than Hiree's health has improved since the Jegenos have moved into their new home. Kinini and Zemzem feel their future prospects have changed greatly as well.

"Had I bought a house from a lender or a bank, I would maybe have to work two jobs to pay the mortgage," says Kinini. "But I don't have to worry about that now. Now we can plan for the future. Huge opportunities are waiting for us."

Some of those opportunities for the Jegenos include furthering both their education and careers. While Kinini holds his master's degree and works as a financial counselor in Hennepin County, he hopes to one day get his Ph.D. And Zemzem—who currently works in housekeeping at Regions Hospital—may consider nursing school.

Being settled in their Habitat home has also made Kinini feel more connected to his community and inspired him to give back.

"I volunteer for Habitat to help change other people's lives," says Kinini. "If we get together and work on one thing at a time in the community, we can change the next community. And the next community can change the next community— and that will bring change to the whole world."

Now that sounds like a dream.