Home is Education

“Being a homeowner made school a little easier for me. I had an office space where I was able to focus on my studies. Walking out of the house on graduation day, people passing by started congratulating me. It felt really good to be recognized by my community.” – William

At Habitat Philadelphia, we know that home opens the door to stability, opportunity and education.

In 2025, longtime Habitat supporters, the Haines Family Foundation, awarded the first Sara N. Haines Memorial Scholarships to two outstanding students from Habitat Philadelphia families:

• William, a Habitat homeowner since 2016 and a master’s student in Human Resources Management at Temple University
  
• Kaylin, whose mother, Helena, purchased their Habitat home in 2004, and who is now a nursing student at La Salle University.

Both William and Kaylin embody the scholarship’s vision: supporting students committed to academic success and making a positive impact in their communities.

Learn more about their journeys below—and see how affordable homeownership became a stepping stone to higher education and continues to shape their lives today.

Watch their story:

Moments like these don’t just happen. Every day, our community comes together to ensure more families have a safe, stable place to call home—and the opportunity to thrive.

Make a gift today to support more Philadelphians like William and Kaylin.