July 30, 2018
A lot can happen in three years, just ask Jessica Bomar, a young, single mother of three children.
“We were living in a tent, then a homeless shelter and then we got here, so this is kind of a finality for us,” Jessica said as she wrapped her arm around her youngest child.
They’re no longer homeless, but their current living situation—a cramped two-bedroom/one bathroom apartment that is often plagued with mold—isn’t healthy or adequate for a family of their size. Jessica often shares a room with her 6-year-old daughter, Cash, while her 12-year-old daughter, Abby, sleeps on the couch in the living room. Her 10-year-old son, Chance, who has autism and sensory processing disorder, needs his own space.
“He requires a lot of alone time,” she said. “And he’s extremely verbal about it. The girls often get pushed out of the bedroom.”
Having a place to call their own and a bit of privacy is what they dream about. The four-bedroom Habitat home that is currently being built in Mt. Angel will provide a fresh start for Jessica and her family, including their two dogs, Tater, a Beaglier, and Ellie, a Chihuana.
“I believe that moving into a home of our own, our very first, would be the foundation of a new start to our lives.”
Prior to submitting a homeownership application through North Willamette Valley Habitat for Humanity, Jessica didn’t know much about the organization. She remembers doing some fundraising for Habitat when she attended Reynolds High School in Portland. When a coworker (at the telecommunications company where she works) encouraged her to apply for the home in Mt. Angel, she didn’t expect to be chosen.
“I was incredibly surprised when I even got the interview,” she said.
Jessica doesn’t have any construction experience, but she said she’s looking forward to getting her hands dirty and putting in the “sweat equity” that Habitat homes require.
“Having our own home will mean everything to us.”