With the stroke of a pen, Craig Showers, 51, says he has a restored faith in humanity.

Through the support of Convoy of Hope’s Extreme Hope Fund, Showers recently signed a contract for a new home in Joplin, Mo.

Partnering with Global Green Building, Project Safe Home and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Convoy of Hope is embarking on a project to help with the building of at least a dozen energy efficient homes in Joplin.

“This means so much to me,” says Showers. “I felt like I was on ice and kept losing my footing. Convoy of Hope has brought stability to my life and I’m so thankful.”

The day after an Ef-5 tornado struck Joplin, and destroyed Showers’ home, he climbed through debris in search of where he once lived. There were a few belongings he hoped to recover but before he could, a massive fire destroyed everything the tornado didn’t blow away.

“To say that experience changed by life is an understatement,” says Showers. “I found myself on food stamps for the first time. I was homeless, I needed help and it was very difficult to accept.”

Showers and his son have been living in a FEMA trailer for months. He had no insurance on his home and has since fallen between the cracks of government assistance. “I just didn’t have the money to make up the difference needed to rebuild my home,” he says.

According to Karen Benson, director of global disaster response for Convoy of Hope, Showers and at least six other homeowners will move in by May 22, 2012—the anniversary of the tornado. “We’ve signed six contracts and there are six to ten more families going through the initial process,” she says. “We hope to be working on all of the builds by spring.”

Showers says the new home will help him get on with his life. “Now I can wake up in the morning and think about something other than where I’m going to live,” he says. “That means the world to me.”