Habitat is pleased to welcome single mother Michele Davies as the potential new owner of a home in the duplex in Silt that is currently under construction. Michele is the mother of 13-year-old Ayden.
Michele is no stranger to small town life. She grew up in Watkins, Colorado, which she describes as a truck stop, and then moved with her family to Carbondale where she began tenth grade. She feels fortunate to have friends today that she met as the “new girl” at Roaring Fork High School.
Moving to San Diego after graduating from high school in 2002, Michele worked in entry level positions. In 2011, wanting to provide more for her son, she returned to the valley and her support system of family and friends. She found a career for the first time in the Motor Vehicle Division of the Garfield County Clerk and Recorder’s Office. This essential position in our community provides Michele and her son with enough income to get by, but, without Habitat’s assistance, not enough to achieve the goal of homeownership.
While Michele has struggled financially, Ayden has had his own struggles. For years, he had difficulty in school. His teachers described him as not paying attention or unable to focus on a task. Finally, Children’s Hospital diagnosed Ayden’s hearing loss, and, outfitted with hearing aids, he began excelling in school. Currently Ayden is enrolled in Glenwood Middle School’s Pre-Collegiate Program. The mission of this program is to provide academic and financial support to middle and high school students who would be the first generation in their families to graduate from college.
Parents can relate to Michele when she says, “I just want the best for my son.” She believes Ayden’s attending college, a dream she once had for herself, will enable him to pursue work that he loves and achieve financial security.
Among her blessings today, Michele counts Ayden’s success in school, the health insurance provided by her Garfield County work, and the new home of their own provided through Habitat for Humanity. Michele further explains, “Habitat is building simple affordable homes, but this is our dream home. We feel like our prayers have been answered.” This family is on an exciting journey filled with new opportunity!