More Family Success Stories Contact: Homeowner Relations (650) 568-7322 housinginterest @peninsulahabitat.org Home Family Success Stories The Singh Family Singh Family Says Habitat Home is a 'Great Start' The flyer came to his post office box and it said something about applying to own his very own home. Immediately, Amandeep Singh thought that it seemed just too good to be true. Amandeep worked hard and saved money. However, even with a good job as a customer service representative at a local wholesale French Bakery, he still couldn't afford to purchase a home in the current housing market. Amandeep showed the flyer to a co-worker and long-time Bay Area resident, who warned him to be careful - the flyer might be a scam or an identity theft attempt. "I thought about it," Amandeep said, "but the flyer didn't ask for personal information like my social security or bank account numbers, and it didn't look like other flyers about home buying that I'd received in the past. I was excited about the opportunity and decided I had nothing to lose. I filled out the flyer and mailed it back to the address provided." Singh soon received a letter in the mail from Peninsula Habitat for Humanity, inviting him to an orientation at Mission Blue Center in Brisbane. Peninsula Habitat had seven homes available for which families could apply to purchase. Although he didn't know anything about Peninsula Habitat, he attended the orientation and took an application. "I thought I might qualify for a home," he remembers. The opportunity Peninsula Habitat was offering could not have come at a better time: Amandeep immigrated to the United States from Punjab, India 10 years ago. After settling in Brisbane, he moved into a small studio apartment where he'd been living ever since. He'd recently returned to Punjab to participate in a traditional arranged marriage process with his soon-to-be wife, Harpreet Kaur. Once married, she planned to join him in the U.S. "I called Preet to tell her that I'd applied for a house, and that if we got it, we'd be very lucky," Amandeep said. "I knew she'd be okay with living in my small studio, but I was hoping to provide her with a home." Not long after Harpreet arrived in Brisbane, they were selected to become Peninsula Habitat homeowners. "Aman was so excited!" Harpreet says through a smile. "I was sleeping and he woke me up to share the news. He was shouting and dialing our parents in India!" "We couldn't believe it was real!" Amandeep added. "Our parents were so excited and proud of us. They told us to visit the Temple to give thanks to God for making things easier for us." With Amandeep working full-time, Harpreet completed the majority of their sweat equity hours. She admits that sometimes the work was hard, but that she had fun working with her new neighbors. "We'll have pride in our homes. We know what's gone into building them and we'll know how to fix things when they break." With construction complete, the Singhs moved into their new home in May 2007 and have begun welcoming friends and family for visits. "In the past, when our friends invited us over for dinner, we were never able to reciprocate," Amandeep said. "We felt so bad that we stopped accepting their invitations, but now, we'll finally have the room and privacy to entertain guests." They're also looking forward to going back to school. Amandeep is eager to finish his Bachelor's of Science degree in Computer Science and Harpreet is interested in pursuing a Master's Degree in Food Processing Technology. "With an affordable mortgage payment, we'll be able to go back to school," beams Amandeep. "Thank you for giving us the opportunity to own a home. This is a great start for us." To read more about Habitat families, please click here.