Dalton — Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity’s (CBHFH’s) newest Habitat Homeowners are moving into their new home on Gulf Road in Dalton and settling in for a very happy, healthy 2025.
Earlier this year, the family got to explore the fun and colorful neighborhood park areas just down the street and explore their new home. Compared to the one-bedroom rental of a small attic space they had been sharing for the past few years, the brand-new, highly energy-efficient three-bedroom is a dream come true. The boys quickly staked out their bedrooms and showed Mom and Dad where they would like their beds and, more importantly, their toy chests!
Oliver shares, “We are a happy and united family, dreaming of raising our little ones in a loving environment with great opportunities.” Oliver, a local tradesman, and Stephanie, a clinician, have been looking for a home for a while. “We dreamt of a place to call our own, where we can design, decorate, and have a yard for our children to play and grow. I had heard about Habitat through friends who shared their positive experiences. Then I did some research online and finally visited the office to learn about the process. I was inspired by the opportunity to achieve our dream of having a home with the support of such a dedicated organization.”
Stephanie adds, “For me, having the opportunity to purchase this home means emotional and financial stability, freedom, generating wealth for the future, being able to offer an inheritance to our children.” And joining a community like Dalton, the Santillan family looks forward to getting to know the local community, as well as getting involved in local activities to support the maintenance and the beautification of their new neighborhood.
While waiting for the closing as the year ended, Oliver and Stephanie have been putting in their Habitat Partnership hours at Habitat’s Pittsfield construction sites and ReStore retail outlet. “Fulfilling partnership hours is essential to the Habitat process. It gives the families a chance to see how the homes are built, learn how to maintain and repair their future home, and, in the process, give back to other families who will soon be moving into their own first-time homes,” said CBHFH CEO Carolyn Valli.
Asked if they had any advice for future Habitat applicants, Oliver and Stephanie replied, “Don’t hesitate to apply. Sometimes, we’re closer to achieving our dreams than we think. Habitat is a dedicated organization that will support you every step of the way.”
