Parents Daniel and Freda and their three children, Joel, Mary Jane and baby Naomi are the second Habitat family for the Anne Street build.
"Finding out that we would be a Habitat Family during the holiday season is the best gift of all," said Daniel.
The family currently lives in a two bedroom apartment which Daniel says is extremely small and often smells of smoke from other tenants which is not good for their children.
Daniel relocated to Canada in 2007 as a refugee and was alone without his family until 2013.
He moved to Barrie from Toronto in 2009 and started working for the Simcoe County District School Board the following year on an on-call basis.
After trying unsuccessfully to secure a full time position anywhere, Daniel returned to school to earn a diploma in order to get a better job and provide a better life for his family.
He graduated successfully and passed the licensing examination with the Law Society of Upper Canada to become a Licensed Paralegal in Ontario
After school, he was hired by Little Start child-care services and worked there until he saved enough money to open his own Paralegal Law Practice.
"Despite all the difficulties I have encountered, I am very grateful to have the opportunity to live in Canada and I have been very enthusiastic about giving back to the community," said Daniel.
He recently received a 5-year recognition award by the Ontario Legislature for service to the Elizabeth Fry Society that he volunteers for.
"We are a hardworking family and we look forward to giving back to Habitat for Humanity," he said. "What you do is so empowering and gives deserving people a boost to their dream of having a home!"
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