Mother of Four Gives Her Children ‘Their Haven’

A 30-day notice can upend any family. Cathy A. and her four children received two of them in five years, forcing them to move through no fault of their own.

On Dec. 30, 2025, that uncertainty ended when Cathy accepted the keys to her new, energy-efficient and affordable Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity (COHFH) home in Cornerstone Creek.

Cathy’s children — Christian, 15; Natalie, 14; David, 11; and Emily, 9 — finally had a place their mother hoped they would always consider their own. The dedication marked a long-awaited turning point for the family.

“Raising four kids in a single-parent household is difficult in itself,” Cathy said. “All I want is to provide them stability — a home where they feel safe, where they know that no matter what happens outside our doors, this is their place. Their haven.”

For Cathy, homeownership represented far more than a house. It offered security, consistency and the opportunity for her children to grow up without constantly fearing another move.

“It has happened to us twice in the past five years,” she said. “A stable home is critical to their upbringing and their path in life. It sets the way for them to be able to do it for themselves one day.”

Through Habitat’s homeownership program, Cathy qualified for a mortgage and completed 100 hours of required sweat-equity volunteer work, helping build her own home and homes for other Habitat families. She purchased her home at cost with no down payment.

“To be a first-generation homeowner means everything,” Cathy said. “I want my kids to know that even when the odds feel stacked against you, you can do this.”

During the dedication, after COHFH Chair/CEO Ann Felton Gilliland presented the keys, Cathy acknowledged that the home-buying process had been challenging.

“We got through it with help from everyone,” she said before wiping away a tear. “I want to thank everyone here.”

Cathy’s house was the 1,150th home built by COHFH since 1990.