Sisay Family

“I Have A Beautiful House I Can Call Home”
Partner Family member Sisay said at the home dedication ceremony for his family’s new Habitat home, “I’m really grateful. Because of you guys [Habitat staff and volunteers] I have a beautiful house that I can call home.”

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newark Partner Family member Sisay stands on a ladder while working on his new Habitat home.
Habitat of Greater Newark Partner Family member Sisay stands on a ladder while putting in some of 200 sweat equity hours required for his family’s future Habitat home.
In June 2018, the Township of Livingston broke ground for two homes to be built in partnership with Habitat of Greater Newark. Sisay and his wife, Mekdes found out they were chosen as the Partner Family for the home at 11 Grand Terrace in October 2019.

At the time, the two-bedroom West Orange apartment that he, Mekdes, son Barkoh, twin girls Amen and Betselot, and Mekdes’ mother Dirbua shared was cramped and substandard. The three active children slept in one room, and the family battled cockroaches and rats. Mekdes says that after touring 11 Grand Terrace, they all loved the home and the neighborhood.

Township of Livingston Mayor Ed Meinhardt says that the township’s partnership with Habitat for Humanity is the beginning of a new future to provide workforce housing within the township and to inspire commitment and volunteerism in the community.

Habitat of Humanity of Greater Newark Director of Finance and Operations Danielle Sanchez emphasizes, “Our work with Partner Families is only possible because of the willingness of communities like Livingston to partner with us and the generosity of individual and corporate donors in funding our continuing work in Essex, Hudson, and Union Counties.”

At the home dedication ceremony, Sisay told the crowd that he originally didn’t understand what it means to be a Habitat family. I didn’t understand.” Now, after going through the process, he says, “I will volunteer and pledge to make this happen for as many other families as I can.”

Interested in becoming a Habitat of Greater Newark Partner Family? Learn more about the process >

Help a local family achieve their dream of homeownership.