“It’s not just a house. It’s our home.”   

With these words, Dharamwati, a widowed mother of four daughters, summed up what a safe and secure shelter means to her family.   

For years, Dharamwati lived in a crumbling two-room structure in Aakera village, Rewari district, Haryana. The house shared with her elderly mother and daughters Naina, Muskan, Khushi and Ayushi, offered little protection from the harsh weather.    

“It was hardly a home. Rainwater leaked through the roof, the walls were damp and there was no proper kitchen or bathroom. We cooked in one corner while the bathroom was in the next room. I was constantly worried about cleanliness and hygiene,” she recalls.     

With no sink, she had to wash utensils outside. Stray dogs would often rummage through the leftovers, increasing the risk of contamination and illness.   

Despite these challenges, Dharamwati worked hard to keep her family afloat. As a school bus conductor earning ₹4,000 a month, supplemented by a widow’s pension of ₹7,000, every rupee had to stretch far. Yet her focus remained clear — her daughters’ education.    

Investing in her daughters’ education left Dharamwati with almost nothing to repair or improve their living conditions. Keeping the family afloat meant housing always came last. “No matter how hard life is, my daughters deserve a chance,” she says.

  A Ray of Hope    

Everything changed when Habitat for Humanity India, in partnership with Max Estates, began a housing project in Aakera village. The goal was to build homes for the marginalised and most vulnerable families, many of them being women-led households.    

“When I filled out the form, I wasn’t sure I would be selected. But I had to try for my daughters,” Dharamwati shares.    

Following a thorough evaluation of housing conditions, income levels and family dynamics, 25 families were selected under the first phase of the project. Dharamwati was among them.    

As construction progressed, her excitement grew. “I watched every brick being laid with hope. I couldn’t wait for the day we could move in,” she says.

That day came on 19^th November 2024, when Habitat for Humanity India and Max Estates handed over the newly constructed homes to the families.    

A New Chapter Begins    

Dharamwati now wakes up in a home that is sturdy, well-lit, and safe. The house features a proper kitchen, a hygienic bathroom, good ventilation and secure doors. There’s even an open terrace.    

“Now my daughters have a clean, peaceful place to study. I don’t worry about stray dogs or leaking roofs anymore. This is our safe space and that means everything to us,” she says with a smile.   

Naina and Muskan, in Class 11 and 10 respectively, now have a quiet space to study and dream big. The younger ones, Khushi (Grade 3) and Ayushi (Grade 2), fill their notebooks with colour and creativity.    

“Habitat for Humanity India has given us a fresh start. This home is our sanctuary, our hope and our future,” she says

This project is part of Habitat for Humanity India’s housing initiative for 50 marginalised and underprivileged families in Rewari district, Haryana. Supported by Max Estates, it is being carried out in two phases. In the first phase, 25 homes were built in Aakera and the families have moved into their new homes. The second phase is now underway in Bhudla village, where homes are being built for another 25 families.