Our Families
The Aymerew Family
Fassil Aymerew is a machinist in Hillsboro and his wife, Fireweyni Gebeve, is a stay-at-home mother to their two sons Desalun, 9, and Tedrose, 7. The family has lived in the same apartment for 11 years. The apartment is poorly insulated and never gets warm in the colder months and water often leaks and freezes inside the walls.
The conditions in the apartment have affected Fireweyni and the children’s health. They have developed sinus problems due to the mold and uncontrolled temperature in the apartment. Fassil has looked into purchasing a home for his family before, but his income was too low to qualify for financing.
Struggling for a solution to his family’s problems, Fassil found Habitat through a friend. Upon being accepted into the program, his children have constantly asked when they are going to move into their new home. Desalun and Tedrose dream of having their own backyard to play in everyday, and Fireweyni looks forward to her family regaining their health and having a safe place to raise her children.
Steve Messinetti has over 20 years of experience working with Habitat for Humanity. Prior to becoming President and CEO of the local affiliate, he worked for Habitat for Humanity International. He is currently board president of Habitat for Humanity of Oregon and a PDC appointed member of the Lents Urban Renewal Advisory Council. In 2009, Steve was named one of the Portland Business Journal’s 40 Under 40.
