paul and neva

We’re grateful for a safe, decent, affordable place to call home. Paul and Neva have a new reason to be thankful, too.

In 1989, Paul found himself in desperate need of shelter, scraping together $7,000 to buy the century old house you see in the photo above. Warped walls and ceilings from a leaky roof created a breeding ground for mold. The windows, floor, and frame of the house are crumbling because of the shifting foundation. The chimney is pulling away from the house. On top of these challenges, Paul is deaf.

Today, Paul shares this home with his wife Neva, who is also deaf. Despite their best efforts, the couple can’t keep up with the costly improvements that would make their current home safe. As deaf people living without proper fire alarms, doorbell lights, or even C02 detectors, Paul and Neva are living in totally unacceptable conditions.

But, here’s where our thankfulness begins. Right now, Paul and Neva are building their future home with the help of a group of local churches who have partnered with Habitat for Humanity. Through our Stark County Faith Build, Paul and Neva are building a safe, decent, affordable home that will have an open floor plan and other accommodations designed for the deaf.

Stories like this are why we talk so much about hope at Habitat, and we need your help to make sure families and children know there is hope. There are still many families like Paul and Neva who need to break the grip of unsafe and unstable housing. Will you join Habitat in reaching out with a hand up, not a hand out?

We’re so happy to say that Paul and Neva won’t have to spend one more Christmas in a house that’s barely holding together. Because generous men and women have opened their hearts and hands to help these future homeowners discover strength, stability, and self-reliance, Paul and Neva have many reasons to feel thankful.

This Thanksgiving, while it feels nearly impossible for us to say it strongly enough: thank you. Thank you for shopping and donating at ReStore, offering your financial gifts, your time, your prayers, and your voice of support. We’re thrilled for Paul and Neva, we’re hopeful for other families in our program, and we are thankful for you.

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