In this section we will highlight the journeys of our amazing Partner Families. 

Please return often to learn about their dreams and accomplishments.  

The Harun Family Profile

Maryan Harun (pictured here with Alan Convery from home donor TD Bank Financial Group) had just finished her law studies at Gahayr Univerisity in her home country of Somalia when civil war broke out. This caused many families, including Maryan’s, to flee to the Kenyan border to escape the violence. With support from her family, Maryan was able to travel from Kenya to New York and finally made her way to Canada. Maryan came to Toronto in 1993 with her two youngest children who were then just babies and her eldest child followed her a year later.

The Harun family now lives in a west Toronto neighbourhood that has suffered through street shootings and other criminal activities. She first applied to become a partner family with Habitat for Humanity Toronto because wanted to improve her family’s living accommodation, but couldn’t afford a higher rent.

 
Maryan and her children had not volunteered in the community very much before getting involved with Habitat Toronto. The whole family has greatly enjoyed their sweat equity responsibilities and believe they will continue to volunteer for Habitat Toronto in the future. 

With a new attitude and a bright future ahead of her, Maryan and her three daughters are looking forward to everything that being a Habitat partner family has to offer. Maryan is very thankful for all that Habitat for Humanity Toronto has done for her family and says “I will never forget the experience.”

The Guerrero-Vega Family

The Guerrero-Vega family (pictured here at the 2008 HAN) is a lovingly large family where Luis and Edith have a daughter and four young sons. After moving to Canada from Mexico in 1998, the family was soon met with some difficulties when their vehicle was stolen and they were forced to move apartments. Since they’ve moved into their current three-bedroom home, they have been subjected to rent increases every time another family member is added to the residence. All three boys share one room while mom and dad sleep with one of the babies. There is only one bathroom for this family of seven to share and through the cold winter months they must keep each other warm while the cold seeps through their poorly-built windows and walls. 
 
All seven of the Guerrero-Vega family members are looking forward to their new Habitat for Humanity Toronto home on the Hainford development. "My wife and I need our own little peaceful corner, and our children also deserve their own space to give them more privacy and room to grow," says Luis. "This home will enable all the family members to experience the feeling of homeownership and will bring along more responsibility as well as dignity to their lives. Although dignity is considered a free asset it will make a great difference to their lives."