Homes for the holidays: Friendship a bonus for two single moms moving into NeighborWorks Great Falls houses

Jazmyn Steele and Alissa Doland went to C.M. Russell High School at the same time, but they don’t remember ever meeting.

“We could have crossed paths daily,” said Doland.

Doland was born and raised in Great Falls but lived in Denver for a while. Steele lived in Great Falls for 12 years altogether as her family was stationed here, moved away, then came back after her dad’s retirement.

Last year, though, both women ended up in the same financial education class, the first step toward building their own homes through NeighborWorks’ Owner Built Homes program.

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The two ladies clicked from the start. Both were single moms with young daughters. Both had gone through some hard times before starting down the path to homeownership but are still optimistic and quick to laugh.

And in mid-November, both moved into their very first homes — right next door to each other.

When you become a homeowner two weeks before Thanksgiving, it’s not hard to find things to be thankful for.

For Steele and Doland, though, their two houses combined still aren’t enough to contain all their blessings after the string of coincidences that cemented their places in each other’s lives.

“We don’t believe in accidents,” said Steele. “It was meant to be.”

Steele and Doland were the only two program participants who were required to take the class where they met.

Doland, 33, began her homeownership journey seven years ago when she first got on the waiting list for a new home and worked to get herself financially ready to take the leap.

Steele, 31, signed up for the program more than a year ago as a way to feel independent and empowered after a difficult relationship. One of Jazmyn’s friends had already gone through a similar build.

“I told her two years ago I would never do that,” she recalled, laughing.

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Doland had just the opposite reaction.

“I wanted to look into to buying a home,” she said. “I took the first-time homebuyers class, and that’s how I found out about this and I was like, I could do that!”

Although Doland and Steele became fast friends, they had no idea how much they’d eventually have in common. They continued through the program, all the while getting to know each other better, until the day the day their home lots were assigned.

“We had a pre-building meeting,” said Doland, “(The organizer) passed out the picture of the block and she pointed out where everybody was going to be…”

“…And we found out that we were going to be right beside each other!” Steele finished.

Both women made their home choices separately and ended up picking out the same color and the same floor plan. Steele was told she couldn’t have that color because they didn’t want two neighbors in the subdivision to have such similar houses.

She chose a different option, but when the siding arrived, it was the color she’d originally picked. The builders had no choice but to put it on.

Getting a house through this program was no cakewalk. Prospective homeowners have to contribute “sweat equity,” being on the job site helping with the build for 30 hours per week.

That meant between the build and their full-time jobs, Steele and Doland worked 70 hours per week for an entire year.

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“You kind of have to put every responsibility on hold for this,” said Doland, who found it hardest to be away from her daughter. “You just have to keep reminding yourself that this is something that’s going to better your family.”

“I would have to say (the hardest part) was the cold,” said Steele. “I mean, the part where I was away from my daughter was torture, but we got negative temperatures during the build.”

Steele recalled having a burn barrel in the yard and warmers inside her clothes to keep warm through a particularly bitter Montana winter.

“I remember crying some days and being like, I just cannot do this,” Steele said.

Throughout that year, the two ladies kept each other going, providing encouragement, help and a deepening friendship.

“This girl was my rock,” said Steele. “When I was ready to give up — and you reach a point where you want to give up — she was there for me.”

“It’s really the same for me,” said Doland, “There was a point I even told Jazmyn, ‘I think I’m going to quit. I think I’m going drop out,’ and she was like, ‘I support you no matter what.’”

They didn’t quit.

In fact, they buckled down even harder, putting in extra hours so they could move in before the holidays. Two weeks before Thanksgiving, Steele still hadn't spent a night in her house, but Doland couldn’t wait.

“I slept on the floor in the living room,” she said. “I actually contemplated putting my Christmas tree up already.”

As the process comes to a close, Doland and Steele have a long list of things they’re grateful for. They both appreciate the help from their families, even the ones who didn’t know anything about construction. They’re also enjoying the knowledge they’ve picked up along the way.

“The people who gave, they didn’t expect anything in return,” said Steele. “Now I can use those skills to actually give back to my mom.”

“You kind of realize how many people care about you when you’re going through this,” said Doland. “I think it also teaches you a little bit of patience and humbleness. You definitely learn how to be patient with other people and patient with the process.”

As a pair of moms, this new home has been the best gift they can give to their daughters, as well.

“My daughter, when we moved in, she was like, ‘this is the happiest day of my life,’” said Doland through tears. “As a mother — especially as a single mother — when you hear that, you think this year was not spent in vain.”

“Hey, and I’m thankful for our friendship!” said Steele, patting Doland’s hand. “Did we say that yet?”

Reach Tribune Staff Writer Traci Rosenbaum at 791-1490. Follow her on Twitter @GFTrib_TRosenba.