Family Stories: The Margaret Lyons Family

Margaret, Rory, Elisa, their cat Mary, and their rescued Australian shepherd, Theo. Fiancé John and cat Strawberry not pictured.

As KulshanCLT’s third homeowner, single mom of two, Margaret Lyons, moved into her Sunnyland neighborhood home in August 2002. Built in 1954, her 2-bed, 1-bath home was $156,000—meager compared to the present day median home sale price of over $430,000. “I’d never owned a house before. My son Rory was a week shy of one year old when we moved in and Elisa was just 4 ½,” remembers Margaret. “But I was ready to own a home that I could live in for the rest of my life.”

Living in a KulshanCLT home empowered Margaret to remain independent through her divorce. “Without Kulshan, I probably would have had to move back in with my parents. It allowed me to make a decision that would better my family, myself and our future.”

Now 17, Rory is a senior at Bellingham High School and is considering living at home next year while attending BTC. Elisa, now 21, works as a toddler teacher at Kids World in Ferndale.

Margaret works as an Office Assistant in WWU’s Environmental Studies Department. From 2004-2008, she also worked as KulshanCLT’s bookkeeper and office manager.

The Lyons in Spring 2005.

“With the stability of a house, knowing you can pay your mortgage and your kids are safe, you can get so involved in the community.” Margaret served on the KulshanCLT Board for two terms and got involved in the City’s Waterfront Redevelopment. “I was also on the Sunnyland Neighborhood Association Board for five years, including an intensive year updating our neighborhood plan. I volunteered at my kids schools for more than 12 years and was on the PTA at both St. Paul’s and Bellingham High.”

This year, with the addition of an attached dwelling unit, the Lyon home will become multi-generational. The additional bedroom, bath and modest kitchen will almost double their square footage. “After my dad suffered a stroke last year at the age of 82, we decided to have him move here so we didn’t have to worry. Someday one of my kids or I may live in the addition.”

Permanent homeownership has also provided long-term stability to the Lyon children. “Its walking distance to my school,” notes Rory. “Adrienne, who lives across the alley in another KulshanCLT home, has been my best friend for almost 18 years,” adds Elisa. “We’re like sisters.”

The Lyons have benefited from other KulshanCLT programs as well. “Thanks to a grant from KulshanCLT, I had solar panels installed two-and-a-half years ago and my electric bill went from an average of $35 a month to $0 ten months a year!”

After Margaret and her fiancé John Dillon get married, they plan to combine households and pay off the 10 years left on Margaret’s mortgage. “We’re going to save for retirement and look forward to traveling internationally,” she adds. “To me, a home is comfort. It’s safety. It’s warmth. It’s the place where you can be yourself and it’s wonderful to come home to.”