Meet Future Homeowner Donovan

Donovan moved to Denver in 2010, and has loved living near downtown in the Five Points neighborhood. He had hoped to one day purchase a home in Denver, but after watching the cost of housing increase year over year, he started to think it was an impossible dream. Thankfully, he didn’t lose hope and kept searching for opportunities to achieve homeownership near central Denver.

Donovan’s first introduction to Habitat for Humanity was a team-building day in 2019 with his employer, TIAA. Donovan is a financial consultant for the retirement company and enjoyed the opportunity to help build homes during a volunteer day. Little did he know that he would soon call this same Habitat community home… it was during that volunteer day that Donovan learned about Habitat’s homeownership program, and realized that he could qualify.

Donovan is excited for the opportunity to build and buy his first home for himself and his 6-year-old daughter. The two are currently sharing a two-bedroom apartment, where they’ve had to convert her bedroom into a hybrid office so that Donovan has a place to work during the pandemic. They’ve made the most of it by putting two desks side-by-side, allowing Donovan and his daughter to work alongside each other as they navigate remote work and school.

“I look at remote learning as a blessing because I get to spend extra time with my daughter,” Donovan shares.

Although Donovan and his daughter are making their current living situation work, Donovan knows it’s not a great place for them long term. The biggest concern is a leak in the roof right above his daughter’s bed that allows water to drip in every time it rains. Donovan has tried to request a fix but gets frustrated by the six-plus months it takes the maintenance team to address any new work orders.

Donovan knows homeownership will make a big difference for his daughter.

“Stability will have a positive effect on her,” shares Donovan. “It will increase her chances of understanding the importance of homeownership when she becomes an adult. She likes to learn and she can do anything when she puts her mind to it.”

Donovan can’t wait to start investing in his family’s future through homeownership.

“I appreciate the opportunity buying a home will create for me… to build equity in something is a really big deal.”