Building a Future Together: Emily and Zach’s Journey to Homeownership
Emily and Zach are proud to call New Glasgow home. They both grew up in the area and have built a life there together. But like many young families, they faced an uphill battle in today’s challenging housing market.
Thanks to Habitat for Humanity Nova Scotia, their dream of owning their own home is within reach. In late October, the couple were officially welcomed into Habitat’s homeownership program. Their Habitat home will provide a stable foundation for their family and help them build a brighter future for their young son.
The couple has deep ties to the area. Emily was born in Merigomish and moved to New Glasgow at about five years old. Zach, a New Glasgow native, has family roots in Lincolnville, a historic Black settlement near Antigonish.
Their journey to homeownership has been anything but easy. Over the past five years, their rent has nearly doubled, making it difficult to save while keeping up with the rising cost of living. “We’ve been looking for a house, but it’s hard with the cost of living these days,” Emily said. “We both work and try to save, but it’s so hard to get ahead.”
Emily and Zach are no strangers to hard work. Inspired by her mother’s career as a nurse, Emily completed her Continuing Care Assistant (CCA) course while pregnant with Elijah and now works at a long-term care facility in Riverton. She dreams of one day becoming a nurse. Zach is a carpenter with Lindsay Construction.
The couple first heard about Habitat for Humanity’s homeownership program through Dave Graham, a construction supervisor at Habitat for Humanity Nova Scotia and fellow New Glasgow resident. They decided to apply and, after completing Habitat’s in-depth application process, were thrilled when they learned they had been accepted.
For them, a Habitat home means more than just owning property—it’s a chance to create a brighter future for their son. The home’s location on Izzard Road holds special meaning for Zach. His relatives ran Izzard’s Grocery Store on Vale Road, a cherished community hub that served home-cooked meals and sold food and home essentials for 57 years.
“I remember running across the road to buy penny candies from their store,” Zach shared. “It feels like a full-circle moment to be building our home here.”
For Emily, the house symbolizes a stable home where her son can grow. “I moved around a lot as a kid and never really had a sense of home, except at my grandparents’,” she said. “I want Elijah to have a place he can grow up in and call home. That means everything to us.”
Emily and Zach are grateful for the opportunity Habitat for Humanity Nova Scotia and its supporters have given them. “We just wouldn’t have been able to do this without Habitat,” Emily said. “This is such a great opportunity, and we’re so excited to start this new chapter.”
For this hardworking young family, their Habitat home will be much more than a house—it will be a foundation for their future, a connection to their community, and a place to create cherished memories for years to come.
Want to support this build? Donate funds by visiting habitatns.ca/donate-now!