After a journey full of obstacles that included a battle with cancer, Alin and Yanvenu Esther Ngurinziza and their four children were days away from homelessness a week ago. But Yanvenu remained faithful, and on Saturday — thanks to help from the Owensboro community — the Ngurinziza family walked into their new, fully furnished home.
Seven years ago, when they were still a family of four, the Ngurinzizas were refugees that came to the U.S. from Africa. They were placed in Mobile, Alabama, in September 2016. Both Yanvenu, who is now a U.S. citizen, and Alin, who is still in refugee status, found full-time work.
But in November 2021, Yanvenu was diagnosed with cancer and diabetes. She couldn’t work for more than a year and eventually lost her job. Alin had to spend time at home taking care of her, leading him to lose his job as well.
With no income and six people in the family by then, their savings were draining quickly. Yanvenu knew they had to find a job. She learned of an opportunity in Owensboro, so she made the trip up for an in-person interview in April 2023.
After being told by their lone Owensboro connections at the time that they’d be able to secure jobs and a house, the Ngurinzizas decided to move to Kentucky.
And while Alin was able to start working and they qualified for the home they were told about, the couple was told the house “was unavailable” after they arrived in Owensboro. With no shelters available to house the family, they ended up staying at the Cadillac Motel.
Staying there was still depleting the last of the family’s savings, as Alin’s first check wasn’t supposed to come for another couple of weeks.
The Ngurinzizas were running out of options quickly, until a chance encounter with Laura Jones, who attends Legacy Church. Yanvenu pleaded for any help possible, saying “we just wanted a place where we can lay our heads.”
At first Jones was afraid she couldn’t help, but said she’d try. Alin was getting frustrated, telling Yavenu they should have never made the trip.
“He said, ‘How can you let me come here to Owensboro? You told me to come here and work. Now I’m working but we have nowhere to stay. I left my house in Alabama to become homeless in Kentucky.’ I said ‘No matter what it is, something’s gonna come up. … I don’t know who, I don’t know when, but I know help is coming,’” Yavenu said.
Shortly after the couple’s conversation Jones called Yavenu — just a few hours after they first — met with the news the family had been waiting for: there might be a house available.
Jones said she had contacted some friends in the community and they “were able to get some donations to help with the house and put them up at a hotel and things like that.”
Reflecting on the phone call, Alin said, “Starting that day, our life changed.”
Yavinu said “This is the best thing ever. I (found out I was) sick in Alabama. Everybody that we know ran away from us. … And someone from outside … that we don’t know, just came in and helped.”
The housing opportunity was the result of collaboration between the Alma Randolph Charitable Foundation, members of Legacy Church, and other community donors and volunteers.
The Foundation’s Hands Up To Succeed (HUTS) program was established in 2016 to enhance the living conditions of deserving, disadvantaged families. Founder Alma Randolph always stresses that it’s truly a “hand up” not a “handout” because there is a selection process, and the families must show they are working to better their situation.
The Foundation typically unveils the annual projects and helps the families in December, but occasionally an emergency situation — such as this one — pops up.
The Ngurinziza family — with children ranging from age 4 to 13 — now has three bedroom sets, living room furniture, a dining set, and washing and drying equipment.
Both Alin and Yavenu gave all thanks to God.
“God can make a way when there is no way,” Alin said. “All my kids have smiles now. I have a smile too. You don’t know how I feel.”
