Blog

CHT homeowner Mya and her husband Tristan know what it means to wait for stability. They are Karen refugees from Burma (now called Myanmar) who were displaced by unrest in their home country and spent eleven years living in a refugee camp in Thailand.  

During that time, they navigated a long and uncertain legal process in hopes of resettling somewhere safe. All three of their daughters were born in the camp, and for more than a decade, the idea of a permanent home remained out of reach.  

When the opportunity finally came to resettle in the United States through Lutheran Family Services, they were given a choice of where to go. They chose North Carolina, drawn by a friend who had already settled in Carrboro. The journey came with sacrifices, including repaying the cost of their plane tickets, which took three years, but it also came with hope. 

When Mya and Tristan arrived in North Carolina, they brought only their luggage, their three young daughters, and a nephew. Lutheran Family Services helped them find a small apartment; the only affordable housing available at the time. They did not speak English, but they wasted no time getting to work, with Tristan first taking a job picking blueberries, then as hotel cleaners. Over time, both found more stable employment in housekeeping at UNC. Although Mya is no longer able to work, Tristan continues, and the family is grateful for the stability and benefits that came with their jobs.  

After years of displacement, they dreamed of something simple but powerful: owning a home of their own. When they learned about CHT’s homeownership program in 2009, they jumped on the opportunity to make this dream a reality. The family purchased their home one year later, in 2010. Today, one of Mya’s favorite things about their house is the space to plant a garden; something that symbolizes both permanence and growth. 

Over the past 15 years, their home has been a place where their family has flourished. All three of their daughters graduated from Chapel Hill High School and have pursued higher education, now working in healthcare and childcare. Their older daughter and nephew have since moved out to start families of their own, while their two younger daughters still live at home, honoring cultural tradition.  

Mya and Tristan also worked hard to learn English through Durham Tech programs. They have become leaders within the local Karen community, establishing the Karen Buddhist Society of NC, and helping other families as they resettle in the area.  

Along the way, they formed a lasting friendship with Lauren (pictured with Mya), whom they met while she was volunteering with Lutheran Family Services. A long-time advocate for the family, Lauren has helped them navigate life in their new home. Through the years, her connection to the family has only grown stronger. She has witnessed their determination firsthand, from learning to drive after arriving with no experience, to building a stable, thriving life in Chapel Hill, and is proud of all they have accomplished.  

For Mya and her family, their CHT home is more than a place to live; it is the result of years of resilience, hard work, and hope finally realized.