For Cecillie, home has always been about family. She shares her life with her son, her mother, and her niece, caring daily for the people she loves most. For the past 17 years, Cecillie has dedicated herself to serving others, working as a CNA and now as a dietary manager at a nursing home. Her career reflects who she is: dependable, compassionate, and hardworking.

Yet despite all she has given to others, Cecillie has never truly had a place to call her own. Living in a rental home has meant asking permission to make even the smallest changes. She dreams of a house where she can choose the paint colors, hang pictures on the walls, and create a space that reflects her family and their story.

Cecillie first learned about Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity through her cousin. She waited four to five years before finally receiving the call that would change her future. That moment brought more than acceptance into the program; it brought hope.

Growing up as one of nine children, Cecillie’s parents never owned a home. Now, she will be only the third of her siblings to achieve this milestone. She is not only proud of this accomplishment but also excited to create lasting memories in her new home with her son.

Cecillie is putting in the work to make this dream a reality, and she’s proud of every step along the way. “This is mine, and I did it,” she says. “My hard work will pay off.”

She is deeply grateful for the volunteers, staff, and donors who make Iowa Heartland Habitat possible. To her, it’s more than an organization—it’s a family. “It’s very family-oriented, and they are there to help you if you’re willing to put in the work,” she shares. “Count Habitat in as part of your family. Once you get in, they treat you like family—and it’s good.”