Homeless mom and daughters get keys to their new house

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They spent years living in a Detroit area shelter. Now Artesha Davis and her daughters are getting the keys to their own home.

On Friday volunteers were applying the finishing touches to a west side Detroit home, planning on a big surprise.

Dozens of volunteers with Cadreon, for the company's first ever Cadreon Cares Day, joined teens with the Detroit-based non-profit The Caleb White Project.

These folks are on a mission to help the homeless.
 
"When I was 6 years old I saw a homeless man sleeping on the sidewalk," said teen Caleb White. "That was the first time I ever saw someone who was homeless. I didn't really understand at that time."

White, 15, met Artesha Davis and her two teen daughters at a homeless shelter, which was when he knew had to help.

"We found out they were moving into their house and when you move into a homeless shelter you don't bring anything," he said. "So when you move out, you don't have anything either."

A once-empty home on Pierson Street was slowly transformed.

"We had a lot of donations from the team members," said Jillian Pixley, Cadreon Cares Day volunteer. "We did some Ikea trips, Lowe's provided some appliances for us at a really great discount."

The new home has freshly painted walls and furnished bedrooms.

"A lot of times people take things for granted, where they didn't even have beds before," said Abby Brien, The Caleb White Project volunteer. "They're going to be in awe."

And when Davis and her daughters arrived, they got quite the surprise.

A gentle flow of grateful tears as they walk through the door... and into the new rooms for her daughters. 

A clean kitchen -- with a new oven, fridge and dishwasher... and upstairs... finally, a quiet bedroom of her own... 

"Oh my goodness, I love it," said Artesha. "Everybody thank you so much."

FOX 2: "Did you ever think this was possible?"

"No, I never thought I would make it to this part," she said. "It's a blessing."

Davis is thankful to those at the shelter here she spent nearly two years. She also thanked her new landlord and all of these strangers - now friends.