Watch Eyasu and Martha’s Journey

From a refugee camp to proud home owners

Adelaide couple Eyasu and Martha could not keep the smiles off their faces the day they received the keys to their new home, made possible by Head Start Homes (HSH).

Eyasu fled war-torn Ethiopia and lived in a refugee camp for 20 years where he first met Kenyan-born Martha, who was working at the camp, selling vegetables. 

He migrated to Australia in 2010 but then spent three years waiting for Martha and his children to follow him out. For the next three years, he lived in a homeless shelter. 

“The shelter was $10 a night, I only had enough money for one meal a day and I would often go to bed hungry,” he recalled. 

Eyasu was finally allocated community housing in 2013 - a one-bedroom unit in Salisbury Downs - and given he had a job, was able to act as a sponsor to Martha and the children to bring them out.  

Martha described those three years as “very difficult” and said she would cry every day as she waited to come to Australia. 

The love and close connection between this pair is enduring. Eyasu describes Martha as being completely supportive while she describes him as a “kind-hearted person who cares a lot”.  

The couple always planned to save for their own home and living in community housing meant they were able to do just that. Eyasu works as a cleaner at the hospital while Martha is a disability support worker. 

In 2019, they were referred to HSH by their tenancy manager who considered them exemplary tenants. 

Although they had already been saving hard, they dedicated themselves to putting even more money aside every week towards a home deposit. 

“I’m proud of myself because we have supported each other to save the money to pay the mortgage,” Eyasu said. 
“Australia is the best country to live in if you are prepared to make sacrifices.”  

HSH guided the couple with their savings plan as part of its Empowerment Services Pathways, along with all the necessary credit checks. 

 HSH then referred them to a specialist BankSA lender, who provided them with a home loan with discounted interest rates and low fees.  

The final step towards home ownership was through HSH giving the couple access to a free property coach, Jess Ellam, who helped them find the home, provided guidance on the purchase price and did the necessary due diligence. 

Jess also recommended and organised a building and pest inspection through Key Properties who provided their services free of charge and Eckermann Conveyancers who provided a special price on the conveyancing services for the property. 

The couple said they were both so happy to be moving into their new home with their three children.   

“I've come from a refugee camp with nothing - and now I am a home owner!" Eyasu smiled. 
“I feel nice because now I have my own home and my kids will be growing up here.” 

Martha said she felt in love with the new house.

“Everyone wants their own things and to feel good about it. The best  thing is that we can do whatever we want!” she grinned. “We can hang pictures - big ones! We can put nails into the wall! And our kids can scream all they like!”
“And look at Eyasu - he was once homeless and now he owns a house!”  

The couple are both studying to improve their employment prospects and say they hope to pay their mortgage off as fast as possible. 

Eyasu and Martha thanked Bank SA, Westpac, Jess Ellam and Eckermann for their support.

“And we especially want to thank Head Start Homes so much because they have supported us all the way through - so we thank them very much,” Eyasu said.   

Stephen Woodlands, Founder and Managing Director — **Stephen Woodlands**, *Founder and Managing Director*

Stephen Woodlands, HSH’s Founder, said Martha and Eyasu’s story was  an inspiring example of the power that comes with staying positive and focusing on dreams, despite adversity. 

“Head Start Homes congratulates Eyasu and Martha from the bottom of our collective hearts,” he said. 
“They’re such a warm, caring and hardworking family and knowing that they now have their own forever home fills us with happiness. “
“It was a privilege to help them along their entire home ownership journey”
“Eyasu and Martha’s wonderful achievement also clearly demonstrates that anything is possible in Australia when we come together to remove structural barriers and create pathways that provide equal access to home ownership.”
“With their move into the new house, it also means an Adelaide Benevolent Society home will now accommodate another family needing affordable housing,” he said. 