Support Margaret and Joseph's Dream of Homeownership

Hi, my name is Emily VanHandel and I am organizing this fundraiser for my parents, Margaret and Joseph VanHandel.

In July, on my mom’s 55th birthday, my parents were blindsided by the unexpected news that they would have to leave their current home within the next few months, as the house they’ve rented for the last 20 years is going to be torn down. They’ve been incredibly resilient in the face of this challenge, working hard to begin the process of uprooting their lives, even through the sudden shock of losing the home they raised their children in through no fault of their own. They have been lucky enough to secure financing to purchase their own home for the first time, a life-long dream they truly never thought possible. While this has given our family immense hope, owning their own home still feels financially out of reach. Since this was such unexpected news and they both live on fixed Social Security income, they’re struggling to come up with the money to fund moving costs, as well as the closing costs associated with the home buying process. While these costs are discouraging to them, continuing to rent is not a feasible option due to high rent prices in our area, as well as the challenge of finding a place that will take them and their beloved cats. Buying their own home, while daunting, is their only option at this point that will not leave them and their cats homeless for the upcoming winter.

Anyone who knows my parents knows that asking for help, even from close family and friends, is very difficult for them. They’re a very resilient and independent pair who have fought for a long time to make ends meet and raise their now-adult children, even in the face of immense challenges. My dad, Joseph, has fought a chronic form of leukemia for over 23 years, leaving him unable to earn the living he sought to provide his family. My mom, Margaret, has also faced a multitude of health issues over the past few years that forced her to retire early, including a heart attack in early August brought on by this recent stress. Regardless of their circumstances, my parents have always sought to live within their means, but this often meant using all their means to survive, leaving them vulnerable to sudden changes like this. They’re incredibly excited at the potential blessing of finally owning their own home, providing security for them and their beloved cats as they enjoy their hard-earned retirement years together. We just need a bit more money to make this blessing a reality.

My brother and I are organizing this on their behalf, but we have not let them know about it yet. We hope to be able to surprise them with the kindness of their loved ones and community once the time comes for them to make their home purchase.

Thank you all for reading their story and for helping us make their dream of security a reality.