Meet our families
Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH) opened its doors in 1987 and has provided affordable homeownership to 74 families.
Meet Driss and Majda
Driss and Majda, with their two young daughters, immigrated to Western Massachusetts in 2018 via a lottery diversity program in hopes of discovering a new country and gaining more opportunities. For several years, the family acclimated to the United States, welcomed two sons, and lived in a house in West Springfield. One day a car crashed into the home causing structural damage. The house was condemned and the family moved into a tiny two-bedroom apartment in the same town. The older girls share one bedroom. Driss, Majda, and the younger two boys share the other bedroom.
Driss said because the rent is too expensive and the apartment is too small, they applied to the Greater Springfield Habitat program after learning about it from a friend.
“We applied through your program to get a home so that our children would have a better life,” said Driss, the patriarch who works as a truck driver, while his wife Majda cares for the children. “My dream is for my children to be good people and useful to society and do good deeds for the environment and achieve their dreams.”
To see Driss and Majda's dedication ceremony held June 1, 2025, click below.
Meet Antonia
Antonia purchased a four-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH) home in Holyoke, Massachusetts, in February 2024. Her four youngest children will move into the house with her.
As survivors of domestic abuse, Antonia wants to show her children it’s possible to break the cycle of abuse and give back to the community that helped them escape their situation.
“First, I want to say thank you to God, my family, my church, and all those who supported me. By God's grace, I was placed in situations where I had no choice but to depend on others to get back on my feet after losing everything due to domestic violence,” said Antonia. “It has been a hard road, but I made it. No, we made it, my family and me. God is good! He has blessed me tremendously, especially with my family, and the opportunity to partner with Habitat for Humanity to help make my dreams come true.”
To see Antonia's dedication ceremony held Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, 2024, click below.