In the fall of 2023, Natalya and Roman Rudov applied for Habitat's homeownership program to secure a safe and affordable home for their family of seven. Roman, a technician at Penske, and his family currently live in a cramped three-bedroom rental house with significant issues, including plumbing problems and a drafty, cold environment with water in the basement.

They learned about Habitat's homeownership program through another Habitat family, the Kulish family, from their church. Motivated by the desire for stability and an affordable mortgage, they decided to apply. The Rudovs dream of having a permanent home where they can plant roots, grow a garden, and provide a stable environment for their children to return to even after they've grown.

The Rudov's appreciated the financial literacy classes, which helped them learn to manage a budget effectively. Natalya discovered she enjoyed assisting with construction, while Roman, already skilled in this area, found it rewarding to contribute. They cherished working alongside volunteers and were deeply grateful for their dedication. "Thank God for these people," Roman shared.

Their advice to other families in the homeownership program is to diligently work on their sweat equity hours: "Do as much as possible and as soon as possible."