Through all the major stages of his adult life, Berra Toka was able to count on a safe, stable affordable home provided by MPHA. From arriving in Minneapolis as an immigrant, to enrolling as a student, to later becoming a husband and father, MPHA supported Berra’s life journey at every turn. And in 2021, that support helped Berra launch into something he only ever dreamed of: homeownership.
Immigrating from East Africa as a young man, Berra first lived in a highrise. Transferring to the Glendale Townhomes and later a scattered-site single-family home, Berra is grateful for the support MPHA offered and the relationships he formed with staff over the years.
“From the beginning to the day we moved out, [MPHA staff] changed our lives,” says Berra. “Without their help, we wouldn’t be the people we are today. Because of [MPHA], I am able to raise my kids.”
Together, Berra and his wife both managed to graduate with associate degrees and work in healthcare all the while caring for their five children. Ever since Berra and his wife had their first child, they have found a way to stagger their class and work schedules so one parent could always be at home with the kids to avoid the high costs of childcare.
Berra isn’t sure he’d have accomplished what he has without the housing assistance he got through MPHA.
“I don’t know if I’d have a family or education without it,” says Berra. “Without the support of public housing, I wouldn’t have [been able to] go to school.”
In 2021, Berra and his family were ready for something that might have seemed impossible prior to living with MPHA: purchasing a home of their own. Today, Berra is the proud owner of a single-family home in Blaine, Minnesota.
Owning a home is an accomplishment many people work towards. Berra is proud he is able to afford and manage a home for his family today. “Owning a home is great. It’s awesome. I feel so happy,” says Berra.
Berra is not the only previous resident to pursue homeownership after receiving housing assistance. In fact, between 2020 and 2022, 17 percent of those moving out of MPHA’s scattered site homes went on to purchase their own home.
It’s stories like Berra’s that show the power that stable housing can have on an individual’s education, family, and socio-economic status. It is a story of dedication and growth. It is a story to be celebrated.
