Thanks to sponsorship from a generous anonymous donor and the Sacramento Region Conservation Corps Youth Build Program, 9-year-old Mark Belisau will no longer have to share a room with his sisters or long for a backyard to play soccer in.

Originally from Belarus, Mark is the oldest of four children to Alex and Halina Belisau.

Alex Belisau, having seen his grandfather, a pastor, imprisoned for several years due to practicing his beliefs, decided to take his family of six to the United States in 2007 in search of a better life.

Here in the United States, Alex works as a delivery person, starting his daily shift at 4am while Halina takes care of Mark and their three other children.  The family of six has been living in a 3-bedroom rental home for the past three year and recently received notice that it is for sale and they will soon be displaced.

The family heard about Habitat through another Habitat family and applied.  Both Alex and Halina helped put in the required 500 hours of sweat equity on their home on 3617 Clay Street and have been anxiously awaiting their home dedication date.

Says Halina, “We never thought we’d be able to purchase our own home.  We want to thank everyone for helping us.  It’s the American dream.”

As for Mark, he’s just excited to have his own room for the first time in his life and be able to play soccer in his own backyard and in the park directly behind their new home.

All are welcome to join us for their home dedication on Saturday, October 8th at 10am at 3617 Clay Street Sacramento, CA 95838.  For more information, click HERE.