Callalily’s Story
A Lifetime of Building Community
For more than fifty years, Callalily Cousar has been a cornerstone of the East Parkside community — a neighbor, mentor, and advocate whose warmth and generosity have shaped generations of Philadelphians. From building Habitat homes to receiving critical home repairs herself, Ms. Cousar’s life is a testament to the power of community and the impact of a safe, stable home.
Callalily first connected with Habitat for Humanity through her church and local neighborhood meetings in West Philadelphia. She joined volunteers who built homes on 42nd Street and helped construct a two-story house for residents with disabilities.
“We did a lot together,” she recalls. “We painted, installed panels, and even set toilets. It gave people pride.”
That pride in homeownership is something Ms. Cousar has carried throughout her life. As a board member with Habitat’s West Philadelphia affiliate, she helped new homeowners understand budgeting and credit, guiding families through the process of purchasing and maintaining their homes.
“I worked alongside homeowners to make sure they could maintain their homes and provide a stable place to live for their families,” she says. “Owning your first home is a door to something greater.”
At the same time, Ms. Cousar and her husband built a legacy of care within their own four walls. Over the years, they fostered more than 125 children, creating a haven of stability and love.
“They didn’t even know they were foster kids,” she smiles. “They just thought it was family.”
Many of those children still return to visit — some now parents and grandparents themselves.
“When they get in trouble or need help, they come back here,” Callalily says. “This is home.”
Her home in East Parkside remains filled with memories of a life lived with joy and purpose. But after decades in the same home, the repairs began to outpace her resources.
When Habitat Philadelphia’s home repair program expanded to her neighborhood, Ms. Cousar was among the first to apply, and made sure her neighbors did, too.
“It meant a lot,” she says of the new accessible bathroom and safety upgrades. “It helps you stay in your home longer. You don’t have to leave the place you love.”
Callalily’s bathroom repair with accessibility upgrades ensures she can age in place safely and comfortably in her own home and create memories for a lifetime.
That ability to stay rooted is at the heart of Ms. Cousar’s advocacy. She has long championed efforts to preserve affordable housing and revitalize vacant properties.
“I wish, instead of tearing houses down, more could be repaired,” she says. “People want to stay in their homes. They just need a little help.”
Her neighbors agree that the impact of Ms. Cousar’s leadership continues to ripple outward.
“She’s like a mother and a grandmother to all of us,” says Joyce, the current Vice President of the East Parkside Community Alliance. “She practically raised us. Her reach goes far beyond East Parkside — she’s an inspiration for the whole city.”
Today, Ms. Cousar’s home repairs allow her to remain in the place where she has built a lifetime of community, love, and service.
“Habitat has done a lot of good,” she says. “It’s helped young people and older people have a home they can afford and be proud of. That’s what keeps our neighborhoods strong.”