The First Photo on the Wall

The First Photo on the Wall

Sarah has stared at blank walls for as long as she can remember. Living in rentals her entire life and moving frequently prevented her from decorating the walls or adding much of her own personality to the places she lived.

“I’m tired of packing up,” Sarah said. “Anywhere I lived, I never put pictures on the wall. I want to be able to put pictures on the wall. That’s my dream.”

That dream is finally coming true. Through her partnership with Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity, Sarah will soon have a home where she and her two children can fill the walls with photos and decorate however they want. 

Currently, her two children share a bunk bed in their small two-bedroom rental. Both are excited to have their own rooms, for very different reasons.

“My son asked if his Xbox can come with him,” Sarah said. “We are in confined spaces now so he doesn’t know it’ll be bigger and he can have all his toys and Xbox. My daughter said she’s going to keep her room clean and that no one can come in. She said she is going to put signs on the door that say ‘do not enter.’”

Volunteer from Johnson Controls, the sponsor of Sarah’s home, panelizing walls in Milwaukee Habitat’s woodshop.

For Sarah, owning a home means more than space. It means new opportunities and a chance to live the life she’s dreamed of. 

“I feel like I’ll be able to live more,” Sarah said. “Like having company over, hosting Christmas. I’ve never hosted Christmas or Thanksgiving at my house. It’ll be having family over more versus going to other family member’s houses.”

Not only is Sarah ready to host and celebrate in her new home, she is also ready to take on the responsibility of ownership.

“I see it as a good investment because I know this is what I want and I’m literally working my hardest toward it,” Sarah said. “I know it’s a big responsibility, but I feel like I’m getting good resources to make sure I can maintain it. If stuff goes wrong, I know where to go: my savings. I’m keeping my savings at a really good level. If anything goes wrong, I have money for it. I’m determined.”

Sarah isn’t going to take a single moment of homeownership for granted. She plans to embrace and document every moment of it.

“I’m going to record every second,” Sarah said. “Like just me in my new home on the couch. I’ll record myself mowing the lawn because I’ve never mowed grass before. I’ll do my own maintenance at the house. I’ll be taking a deep breath like I did it.”

When asked what this home will mean to her, Sarah responded:

“It’s going to mean everything. It’s going to mean I had a dream and I made it come true. It’s going to mean the world to me.”

As she imagines the moment her homeownership dream comes true, another dream come true will shortly follow. Sarah will hang up her first photo. And she knows exactly what the photo will be. 

“The first photo on the wall is going to be me and my kids.”