Meet our families

Meet the Castros

Ana continually strives to make herself the best mother she can be and she knew a home is what her children needed. Before Ana applied to GSHFH, she worked to improve her credit, enrolled in several courses and programs, including Way Finders’ Family Self-Sufficiency program, a financial education, and a first-time homeowners course. Upon successful completion, the medical receptionist opened her first bank account and applied to GSHFH homeownership program in April 2018. Even though she wasn’t selected, she continued her commitment to meet GSHFH’s homeownership program requirements. Ana reapplied in early 2019 and was selected for the four-bedroom, two-bathroom house in Springfield. In April 2021, the family celebrated the completion of construction with a dedication ceremony. Click below to see images from the event. 

Meet the Toto Mikangos

TupaTupa Toto, his wife Faida Tausi, and their children are a refugee family from Africa who immigrated to the United States in 2015. Under the guidance and support of Jewish Family Services of Western Massachusetts, they settled in Springfield and enrolled the children in school. In the six years since they arrived, they’ve integrated themselves in the community and expanded their family and welcomed their fourth child. At church, another refugee told TupaTupa and Faida about Habitat and how their family benefitted from the program. Realizing owning a “personal house” is a dream of theirs, they applied to our homeownership program in spring of 2020 and were accepted in October 2020. In February 2021, the family moved into their three-bedroom Springfield home. Click below to see images from that day.

Meet the Robledo-Torreses

In 2016, Marielis moved from New Jersey to Springfield, Massachusetts, with a dream to make a better life for her daughter. Her journey with GSHFH began in late 2018-early 2019, when the apartment she lived in had been condemned. She and her two children moved in with a family member and set up a temporary home in one room. In July 2020, her two-story, three-bedroom home was complete and the family moved in, excited for the space to grow and call their own.

Meet the Kagomas

Joseph, his wife and their five children, moved into their house in Springfield in winter of 2020.

Meet the Raphaels

After facing tremendous tragedy and overwhelming struggles, Ibrahim and his wife Josaphina, immigrated to the United States from a Tanzanian refugee camp in 2015. With their four children and his sister in tow, Ibrahim was determined to create a better life for his family. In 2018, he was accepted into Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity program and construction soon began on his four-bedroom home. Around Thanksgiving 2019, the family moved into their new Holyoke home, a dream that Ibrahim couldn't have fathomed just 16 years ago.

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Meet the Kleins

When Brandon and Sara applied for the Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity program in autumn 2018, the couple lived in a small two-bedroom apartment with their three boys. The apartment was not up to code, had faulty electrical work, and no wheelchair ramp. The Kleins oldest son has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and uses a wheelchair. Additionally, once inside the apartment, there was little room for the wheelchair, and the boy was carried. Due to all of their son's equipment, there was little space for the other two boys to play. Brandon and Sara wanted more for their family. In summer 2019, the family moved into their new three-bedroom Springfield home with modifications, including a stair lift, that allows their children to grow and thrive. 

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Meet the Butoyis

Reverian, his wife, and their two young children immigrated to the United States from a Tanzanian refugee camp roughly 14 years ago. They had lived in the tents with limited food for approximately 11 years. Upon entering the US, they welcomed two more children, but continued to struggle. Eventually, they rented a home in a dangerous neighborhood where drive-by shootings were a common occurrence. Twice, their home and property were hit and damaged by stray bullets. Even though no one was hurt, they wanted better, safer, and decent housing. In August 2018, the Butoyis moved into their new four-bedroom house in Springfield. 

Meet the Monroes

Massachusetts native LaToya and her three young children lived in a small two-bedroom unit of a multifamily apartment building prior to their introduction to Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity. To get to her third-floor walkup were rickety, steep, and dimly lit steps. Inside, there was little storage for games and toys, and less space for the boys to play. Outside lacked a backyard. LaToya knew for her boys to have a chance to grow and thrive, they needed a home.
In 2016, the family moved into their new Springfield home.

Meet the Febo-Garcias

Six years ago, Emma and her three children lived in a rat-infested apartment in Springfield's North End. Their landlord was unresponsive to their concerns and the neighborhood became increasingly dangerous. She knew more harm than good would come to her children if they stayed. When they moved into their three-bedroom Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity home in 2016, she embraced the feeling of security, knowing she and her children would no longer have to question their surroundings. 

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