Despite the difficulties and scary predictions that come with the Coronavirus pandemic, one family on the Sunshine Coast has a big reason to celebrate. After a long-lasting true friendship that grew into a deep love, the marriage of Shantaya Erb and Charles Cottrell has united their families. They were neighbours living side by side in a duplex at Habitat for Humanity’s Sunshine Coast Village. Both were single parents with five children between them, and also best friends. Now they are a blended family living together in one home in the Habitat Village.
The wedding on March 21, although planned before the pandemic and social-distancing regulations, had to be scaled back from two hundred and fifty guests to just a handful of close family members. Not the huge celebration they had envisioned, but still very much a special day for them and their children.
Shantaya and Charles first met at a dance class when they were thirteen years old. They still dance together today—tap, contemporary, and other dance genres. Shantaya is a dance instructor, Charles a carpenter. Charles went off to Bible college in the US for four years. The two of them married other partners and had families, but the bond they had as friends was never lost. They both divorced and reconnected again as close friends. Shantaya qualified for a home and moved into Habitat Village. Her new home needed some TLC and renovations, and Charles, the carpenter and friend, was there to help. He worked during the day building homes, then donated his own time in the evening and on weekends to help Shantaya. In time, Charles was also looking for a home for his family and with her encouragement, he applied and qualified for a vacant Habitat home. By luck and fate, they became neighbours in the same duplex.
They both praise the Habitat experience, saying it has been good for low-income families, giving them a chance to get started as homeowners. In particular, they are high on the sense of community and the connection they have with other families. They share comments and seek the help of neighbours on their busy Facebook message board. With twenty-seven children of all ages, from infants to teens, in the Habitat Village, they all help each other, babysitting and picking up neighbouring children at school, soccer, dance, or other programs. Friendships have developed among the children, and residents are comforted by the safe environment they share.
During the COVID-19 shutdown, Shantaya has been doing her dance instruction on Zoom from her living room. Charles subcontracts his services building houses. Fortunately, because there are only a couple of construction workers on a homesite at a time, they have been able to keep their social distancing and continue working.
Habitat Community living is a stepping stone for many owners and residents. When they are ready and have the means to do so, they are encouraged to get mortgage approval and buy a home outside the Village where they may have a larger house, a bigger yard, and greater independence. This frees up a home in the Village so another family looking for the same chance to become homeowners can move in and continue the important cycle. Shantaya and Charles, with their larger family and new life, believe their time to move is near, perhaps within the next six months. They know their friendship and love for each other has grown into something wonderful while being part of the Habitat for Humanity family. They will leave knowing the opportunity they have had raising their families there and the friends they have met will be everlasting.
Words | Brian Coxford
