“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,” she recalls. “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.”    

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.    

“I believe education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty,” she says. “No matter how hard life is, my daughters deserve a chance.”  

  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,” Dharamwati shares. “But I had to try — for my daughters.”    

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,” she says. “I couldn’t wait for the day we could move in.”   

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 where the family can sit and enjoy the winter sun.    

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

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.    

For Dharamwati, this new home is more than just bricks and mortar. It is a foundation of dignity and security — a symbol of what’s possible when communities come together to support one another.    

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

The generous support of Max Estates has enabled Habitat for Humanity India to build safe and dignified homes for 50 families in Aakera and Budhla villages of Rewari district in Haryana. These marginalised families were earlier living in poor housing conditions. The project is being implemented in two phases. In the first phase, 25 homes have been built in Aakera. The families have moved into their new homes and are building a better future for themselves. The second phase is currently underway in Bhudla village, where Habitat India is building homes for 25 families.