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- Room to Share: Where is Marnita Now?
Marnita has been a Habitat homeowner for almost 18 years. She now works for Cincinnati Public Schools and describes kids as her passion. She's been in her current position for 7 school years. Marnita has 3 children. "I call them my C kids," she said, since they all live in different cities starting with the letter C. Marnita's daughter lives in Columbus and does computer work. She recently moved into a home with her 5-year-old son. Marnita's youngest son is in Chicago working for the Chicago Science Museum. He's lived there for 8 years, completing both his bachelor's and master's degree. Currently, he is looking at schools to get his PhD. Marnita's middle child works as a security guard and baseball coach. He recently moved into a home in Mt Healthy. He has two children aged 10 and 4 months. When Marnita was building their future home, her children were 14, 12, and 9. And when they moved in, Marnita's mom came with them. Marnita expressed the gratitude and joy she felt being able to bring her mother with her. Her mom did all the cooking and hosted family events in their new home. Marnita's mother has since passed away, and she said she didn't know how her mom managed to juggle it all. "Wow," said Marnita. "I don't know how my mom did it. It was a blessing for me." Marnita's mom was the one who pushed her to go back to school to earn both her associate degree and eventually her bachelor's degree. Because of the stability her house provided and because she had room for her mom to live with her, she was able to go back to school. "If I didn't have this home, I wouldn't have had the degree that I have now. I wouldn’t have been able to push my kids to go to school or get the degrees they have," says Marnita. She also remembers feeling nervous when she was first handed the keys to her home. "Am I going to be able to keep it up?" Homeownership comes with a lot of responsibilities, but with the vast Habitat network and the coursework required to own a Habitat home, new homeowners are prepared to maintain and care for their home. Marnita thinks that everyone should own their own home. She recommends filling out a Habitat for Humanity application and seeing what happens. "You never know, you got to try." Marnita originally filled out a Habitat application but then decided to not turn it in; she was too nervous. But eventually she decided that she had to try. She turned it in during the next application cycle and was accepted. She is so glad that she overcame her nerves and submitted her application. "This is the way to go. I believe in Habitat." Marnita and her family celebrated their first Thanksgiving in their new forever home shortly after moving in. Marnita can look back and say that, in her adult life, she's only moved twice. And in her kids' childhood, they only moved twice. This is a fact that she is proud of. Marnita lives in Avondale, which she describes as a family-oriented area. She likes to walk around and look at all the houses, from the mansions to the new Habitat homes. "They're always building," says Marnita about the Habitat homes going up in her neighborhood. "Habitat has grown, they restore homes, I tell [people], if you want to be a homeowner, which you should--everybody should own their own home--Habitat is the way to go. And it's yours. You should have your own home." "My oldest son asked me when he moved out 'Mom, what are you going to do with this big house?' I'm like, are you serious? I'm going to live here!" Marnita's home is full of memories, and it provides her a safe, affordable place to call home. "There's no way I could afford rent in another house, or to start over. So, this is it for me." She makes sure her family knows that they always can come back. "This will always be here; your room will always be upstairs. I'm going to be here." "Having a habitat home, it fulfilled one of my dreams. Getting a college degree was another one of my dreams. And to just be healthy and be here for my kids, that's all three of my blessings answered… I'm able to provide for my home, keep a roof over my head, I have a car, I work not even a mile away. I'm able to still work with the kids in my community and to give back. That's what I'm able to do, so that's what having my home allows me to do." Marnita is also passionate about softball. She developed her own softball organization in her community. She made 5 teams and set up a schedule so the teams could play each other. Now, this league has expanded. The Cincinnati Diamonds has players ranging from 5 to 14 years old. They travel to other cities for games and tournaments. "It allows me to get the girls out of the city and allows them to see what is outside of Avondale and Cincinnati," says Marnita. "I'm doing softball in the city. I chose to continue with it to keep the girls busy." She also makes her players participate in volunteer events, instilling them with the importance of giving back. "People are giving to you, you have to give back to them," Marnita tells her players. Now that Marnita has an empty house, she misses the noise and fun that comes with having a full house. "When [my grandkids and great nephews] are here, even though they're loud, they're everywhere -- I love that. I love having kids here." Marnita used to be a foster parent, and she is thinking about going back into foster care. "The need is there, I have the space," says Marnita. "I have room to share."
- A Spotlight on Megan in our Construction Training Program
The Habitat for Humanity Construction Training Program, or CTP, is a workforce development initiative designed to train and prepare individuals for careers in the construction industry. "I enjoy working with the students and watching them grow as they become more engaged with the construction trades on their path to full time employment," says Holly, the Skills Training Manager at Habitat Cincinnati for the CTP. This program is a collaboration of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati and CityLink. The CTP is a critical component of our work to build stronger communities and provide affordable housing solutions to families in need. In the last cohort , there was one standout student, and she just so happened to be the only woman in the program. Megan, a 28 year-old originally from Salt Lake City, recently graduated the program and will soon start full-time employment with Jostin Construction. She's looking forward to moving to the next level of construction. As for her time with Habitat, Megan called the CTP a "beautiful, amazing program" and shared her experience with us. "I walked into the program, didn't know anything. Now that I've graduated with the program, I have learned so much more than I knew before… The program is challenging, but challenging in a good way," said Megan. But outside of construction skills, she said patience was one of the top things she learned in the program. "I have learned to be patient with things instead of rushing things." Being the only female in the cohort of 11 presented itself to be difficult at times, but Megan realized this actually made her stand out in a good way. "I was looking up to them, but the whole time they were looking up to me," she said. "We became a family. We all would stick together. It doesn’t matter if one [person] failed, we were all there to lift each other up." Megan credits some of her success in the program and growth as a leader to having strong female construction instructors to look up to. "With me having Felicia and Holly, I didn't feel too left out. There was actually three of us and with them being on my team, it actually made me step up to be more of leader," said Megan. Her classmates told her what a great leader she was. They watched her step up to help others learn things that they didn't understand. The support she had from her instructors and classmates made her believe in herself and realize her potential. "I believe that I am a great leader," she said. "I have learned, by me being the only woman in this class, that I am very strong-minded, very helpful, very smart, intelligent, and actually I'm good at teaching. And I didn't even know." She encourages other women to sign up for the program, knowing that they will grow in both construction and leadership skills. "Women that come into the program, you will be a better leader than what I am right now." With each cohort and each woman that signs up, female leadership in construction will continue to rise. During her time in the program, Megan also got to work on building an actual home with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati. "Walking through the doors with nothing, that was scary! How we gonna build this?" Megan questioned. But her instructors were supportive and reminded her to slow down. She said that they stressed the main key is to take your time. Be patient. Don't rush anything. "Being on this project I learned to take my time," she said. So not only did she gain hands-on construction skills, but she also learned how to work efficiently on an actual build site. "The best part of me being on the Habitat [site] physically is me getting dirty. Megan hopes that throughout her career she can continue to pour love into the things she builds. "Coming into [the Habitat build site] with nothing has made me realize that my hands have built something so peaceful, loving, joyful for the next family to come to," she said. "That's something that I like doing with the hands that God has given me. I have carpenter hands that God has blessed me to build peace, love, joy, abundance everywhere, and it gives me joy." Before Megan starts at Jostin Construction, she decided to extend her time at Habitat an additional six weeks, which is an option all CTP students have while they continue to interview for jobs. Megan has been working on finishing up a home. "I don't like starting a project and not finishing it," she said. To her, it's rewarding knowing that a family will move in and realize that she worked on their home. Megan highly recommends signing up for the CTP. "I recommend a lot of people, if you're interested in construction, to come on to the program. It's very helpful," she said. "They don't give up on you, they won't let you give up and that's the main thing about the program. They're here to bring you up and to push you to the bigger and better level that you would've never seen coming." When it comes to the next step in her career, Megan is nervous, but she knows that she can handle it. "Am I scared? Am I afraid? Yes! But out of peace, joy, and love, these people [from the CTP] have pushed me so far to where I believe I can make it this far," she said. "But now that I'm actually taking the next step from residential to commercial that's a challenge--that is a good challenge. I am happy, I am blessed, I won't complain. I know I am able to travel the joy, peace, and love that God has given me in my heart to transport to the next level in life that he has prepared for me."
- A Stake in Your Community: Where is Jewel Now?
Jewel has lived in her Habitat home for six years now. She has one son, who is currently looking to find his own place, and recently got married. Personally, Jewel has moved at least 4 or 5 times before finally buying her own home through the Habitat homeownership program. These moves aren’t including all the times she had to move as a child with her mother. “[Even after two months of living here,] I was still getting that giddy feeling,” says Jewel. She was fortunate to buy her house right before her grandma passed away. To her, becoming a homeowner was extra meaningful because of her grandma, as she was the first and only person in Jewel’s family to actually own her own home. It was special that she got to share her journey to homeownership with her grandma. “There’s still a joyous feeling to say—wow! I’m a homeowner.” “I made my vision board say, ‘from here, you’re going to a house, and you want to have ownership.’” “Because you’re a homeowner, it gives you more stake, ... more interest in how the community is developing because you have interest in the things that come around,” says Jewel. This is why Jewel has become so passionate about community engagement. She has worked on many community projects from assisting with plans for a park and local revitalization projects. “Owning a home makes me want to be a part of the community more,” says Jewel. She also has been deeply involved with Habitat events in her community. Rock the Block is a Habitat event that she is very passionate about. Jewel has also attended council meetings and met with city officials to make changes in her neighborhood. One issue she felt strongly about was setting quiet hours for the train intersection near her home. She worked with a neighbor to try and get the train conductors to stop blowing the horns during night hours. Although her petitioning did not deliver the outcome she wanted, the experience taught her the importance of using your voice in your community, to advocate for the changes that you want to see. Jewel says that upon moving into her new neighborhood, it was important for her to find out “how I could be of service to the community.” Jewel is also very passionate about staying active. Her job as a Project Coordinator for the Drug and Poison Information Center at Cincinnati Children’s allows her to attend events and develop projects in the Cincinnati area. She is able to work with residents to relay important information in an easy-to-understand way. She’s also a part of her church’s choir and volleyball team. Jewel is someone who loves to connect with others. Jewel takes pride in her home. She said that owning a home taught her son an important lesson about responsibility. Coming from having landlords or parents there to fix everything or help out, Jewel thought that being in charge of her home would be overwhelming. However, she learned that she had a community of support to lean on. From Habitat employees to her partner family group to new neighbors, she found herself with a new directory of contacts she could reach out to if she ever needed guidance or help. After living in her home for six years, Jewel finally feels like she’s made the place unique. “It’s time to make it your own,” she told herself after she hit the two-year mark of living there. “I think I was inspired by my neighbors." Just from exploring the first floor, you can see how Jewel has added bright colors, pictures, backsplashes, and artwork to transform her house into her home. “I’m still elated today,” says Jewel about her home. “I like to host, to be the guide,” says Jewel. She likes to make people feel welcome in her home and prides herself on how warm and inviting her home is. She frequently hosts her church groups and church choir for gatherings and practices. Her home is her safe haven. “During the [Covid-19] Pandemic, it was great to know that I had a home to come home to," says Jewel. To future homeowners, Jewel gives this advice: get to know your neighbors and stay a part of your partner groups. To Jewel, building a support system and engaging with your community are essential parts of homeownership. Watch her full interview:
- HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF GREATER CINCINNATI UNITES VETERANS AND BUSINESSES FOR A VETERAN BUILD DAY
On Friday, November 10, 2023, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati [HFHGC] will host a special Veteran Build Day where veteran volunteers will come together to complete exterior home projects for a deserving veteran family. Through the Veteran Repair Program, homeowners Stanley and Shirley have been working with Habitat Greater Cincinnati for several months to improve their home. These projects include essential home repairs and accessibility modifications to ensure their safety, stability, and independence. Stanley and Shirley moved into their “forever home” 31 years ago after Stanly served in the U.S. Army as a combat photographer. The couple have built a strong community with their neighbors and local church over their three decades in the home. These critical repairs will allow the couple to remain safe in their home that they love. Six generous businesses have stepped up to support this cause by either donating or subsidizing the costs of these repairs. Total donations value nearly $20,000. These repairs encompass modifications to the entire house, making it ADA-compliant so Shirley, a wheelchair user, can safely move through her home. Additional scope of work includes replacing the broken water heater as well as fitting the home with new gutters, chimney cap, masonry repairs, and all new doors and windows. “It has been great working with Stanley and Shirley, and we are thrilled to see these much-needed repairs come to fruition,” says Megan Golike, Director of Operations at HFHGC. “We are blown away by the generosity of our partners. It is an amazing to see the community coming together to support this wonderful veteran family.” Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati is deeply grateful for the support of valued partners. Special thanks to Bouldin Builders , Embers Fireplace & Chimney, Jason Gerth Plumbing, Maksim Roofing , Stegman Landscaping , and Window World for their generosity and commitment to giving back to the community. It is through collaborative efforts like these that we can make a meaningful impact on the lives of veterans in our community. The Veteran Repair Program is just one of the many ways Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati fulfills its mission of creating and preserving affordable homeownership. By partnering with families, volunteers, and donors they create opportunities for people to build strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter. To learn more about our programs and how you can get involved please visit our website at habitatcincinnati.org.
- A Decade of Homeownership: JaQuanna and Zhyaire
In January of 2012, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati dedicated a newly rehabbed home in Over-the-Rhine to a hardworking mother and her daughter. Now, more than ten years later, JaQuanna, 40, and her daughter Zhyaire, 22, still call their place on Elm Street home. Their journey to homeownership started when JaQuanna opened a fortune cookie that read: you will be involved with humanitarian work. She had no idea what that meant until she drove past a Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati billboard. When she got home, she searched up Habitat and was connected with our homeownership program. JaQuanna has worked for Cincinnati Metro for 17 years. There, she works as a coach operator, clerk, and a training specialist. But her work doesn't stop there. On the weekends, JaQuanna is a wedding and event planner. Zhyaire also dabbles in multiple fields. She is the owner of a small bakery called Zeeza's Sweets, makes music, loves to dance, and is currently in school to be an esthetician. She told us that her love of baking developed in their kitchen. She says that her friends used to call her cupcake girl because of how much she baked. And, with a bonus room on their third floor, they were able to create a music room for Zhyaire to practice and create her own work. Jaquanna said, "we had plenty of space and the house provided that for us." Their home, with all its space, has been a place for them to foster their passions and careers. "I was dancing all around this house. I taught myself how to flip here," said Zhyaire. Since moving to the home, JaQuanna married her long-time partner, Kymisha. Kymisha is an urban farmer master gardener in charge of 82 gardens. She leads workshops on gardening, cooking, and healthy eating here in the community, and the whole family is often involved. JaQuanna told us that this passion started in the backyard of their Habitat Home: "The home here started her passion in the backyard with the fruits and vegetables, with her green thumb, which evolved into the community." JaQuanna and her family have seen their neighborhood grow, change, and flourish throughout the years. Over-the-Rhine is very walkable, and JaQuanna says that they all take advantage of this. Growing up, Zhyaire was able to walk to school and connect with her community. They also have direct access to the street car, which helps them save on gas and reduce their carbon footprint. "We love just being right down here," she says. From F.C. parades, workout classes at Washington Park, and events at Findlay Market, JaQuanna loves the events and liveliness of their area. "Just being in the community and right here in the heart of everything has been wonderful." JaQuanna is only the second person in her family to become a homeowner. She looks forward to passing the house down in her family. Although Zhyaire recently moved out and is planning a move to Texas for school, JaQuanna makes sure that she knows where home is. "I always tell her, you can always come back home. Go explore the world, but you can always come back home. And this is where home is." "I feel like the main goal was stability," said Zhyaire. Since moving in the house, she graduated high school and started her business. JaQuanna has gotten married and advanced in her career. "Everything that I wanted from this house as far as stability, travelling, [Zhyaire] growing up here… everything we've been able to accomplish. So, moving forward, we're just enjoying it," says JaQuanna Pre-pandemic, JaQuanna volunteered her time with Habitat. She hopes to once again get involved with Habitat, aiming to work with and inspire future homeowners. JaQuanna and her daughter look back on the Habitat homebuying process with fondness, remembering all the people that supported them and all the hard work they put in. JaQuanna hopes that more families can go through the same process. To potential sponsors, donors, and volunteers she says "please help a family out. [Owning a home] has been so great and rewarding, one of the best things that has happened to me and my family."
- Sade's Story
Habitat Homeowner since 2021 | West College Hill, Cincinnati Sade purchased her West College Hill home from Habitat in 2021. We had a chance to check in with her a year later to hear how she and her family are doing in their new home.
- Preserving the Past to Secure the Future: Mike's Experience with the Veteran Repair Program
Mike has lived in Dayton, Kentucky his whole life. He reminisces about growing up with his seven brothers in a two-room home just down the street. From his seat in his living room, he can see the High School where he graduated. Now Mike, his wife, and their Bichon dog live in a two-story, 100-year-old home that also holds special value to the family. Mike’s parents spent the second half of their life living in the home. Once they passed away, Mike and his family moved in. “I have lots and lots of memories in this house,” says Mike. Mike, a U.S. Army veteran, reached out to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati’s Veteran Repair program when he discovered water pooling behind his walls. He worked with Habitat to repair the badly damaged roof and gutters that were causing water to enter the house. With help from the program, Mike was also able to install new handrails on the porch stairs to increase the home’s safety. Funding from The Home Depot Foundation made these repairs possible. “We were so happy about [the Veteran Repair Program]. Wow, I mean—unbelievable.” Mike says that people frequently contact him wanting to buy his home to rehab it. He says, “if we moved from here to somewhere else it's going to double the price we pay for this, you know, it's really silly. I’m going to stick it out here until I croak.” Now with the completed repairs, Mike doesn’t have to worry about having to choose between moving or living in potentially unsafe conditions. “I’ve lived in Dayton my whole life. […] It’s really nice around here. We have a very good relationship with our neighbors. We help each other out. We love it here,” says Mike.
- ENQUIRER MEDIA NAMES HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF GREATER CINCINNATI WINNER OF THE TOP WORKPLACES AWARD
Cincinnati, Ohio, June 13, 2023 - Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2023 honor by Enquirer Media Top Workplaces. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC. The confidential survey uniquely measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization: including alignment, execution, and connection, just to name a few. “Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees,” said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. “That's something to be proud of. In today's market, leaders must ensure they’re allowing employees to have a voice and be heard. That's paramount. Top Workplaces do this, and it pays dividends.” "To be recognized again as a Top Workplace based on employee feedback from all levels of our organization is an honor," says Erin Flynn Director of Human Resources at Habitat Greater Cincinnati. "We are incredibly proud that our team has created a workplace that people want to be part of. Continuing to cultivate a culture of inclusion and support allows us to further our mission to build strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter."
- Habitat for Humanity of Ohio Awarded $25 Million for Workforce Housing and Training Initiatives
CINCINNATI, OH (January 6, 2023) – Habitat for Humanity of Ohio has been awarded $25 million as part of a larger American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) spending package that was signed into law today by Governor DeWine. The funding will bolster a statewide effort by Habitat for Humanity including locally with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati to address the shortage of workforce housing across Ohio and provide repair services for elderly and disabled homeowners. The Habitat for Humanity network is uniquely positioned to address emergency housing needs on a statewide level. With the introduction of the Aging in Place program in June 2022, Habitat Greater Cincinnati is prepared to increase repairs for low-income homeowners in the Greater Cincinnati region. Furthermore, Habitat for Humanity is not just a builder, but a developer, making the organization ‘shovel ready’ to put the one-time APRA funding to good use. The recent ARPA allocation for Humanity for Humanity of Ohio is the largest award in the country for the international nonprofit housing organization. The funds are slated for the following purposes: $15M for new home construction to include rehabs of existing homes $9M for a critical home repair program for seniors and the disabled $1M for the creation of a statewide Habitat for Humanity apprentice program “The Ohio legislature understands the struggles of Ohioans to find affordable and available housing, and they are committed to finding real housing solutions in the next general assembly,” said Ryan Miller, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Ohio. “We are grateful our lawmakers see this one-time investment of ARPA dollars will lead to a long-term investment in communities and people throughout Ohio. We also look to build upon our 20-year relationship with our friends at the Ohio Department of Development as we partner with them on this important Habitat housing initiative.” “We are grateful to our state representatives who continue to champion the work of affordable homeownership in our community. These funds will accelerate our strategic plan and will help families in our community achieve strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter,” says Joe Hansbauer, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati. About Habitat for Humanity of Ohio Habitat for Humanity of Ohio is a statewide 501(c)3 organization whose main purpose is to increase the capacity of Ohio's 44 Habitat for Humanity affiliates to build simple, decent homes in partnership with families in need of affordable housing. Across America, individuals and families struggle to find affordable places to live. Habitat seeks to remedy this injustice by providing families the opportunity to realize their dreams of homeownership on terms they can afford. Habitat was founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a simple, durable place to live in dignity and safety, and that decent shelter in decent communities should be a matter of conscience and action for all. They welcome volunteers and supporters from all backgrounds and serve people in need of decent housing regardless of race or religion. Located in Columbus, Ohio, Habitat for Humanity of Ohio provides services to affiliates through resource development, advocacy, and training. About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati (http://habitatcincinnati.org/) is a non-profit Christian housing ministry that seeks to build strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter. Since 1986, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati has built, renovated, or repaired more than 680 homes throughout a nine-county region including Hamilton, Butler, Clermont, and Warren counties in Ohio; Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties in Kentucky; and Dearborn and Ohio counties in Indiana. It has also contributed to building more than 1,000 homes globally in Cambodia, El Salvador, Kenya, and Nepal. Habitat is dedicated both locally and globally to construct, rehabilitate and preserve homes; advocate for fair and just housing policies; and provide training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. ###
- Republic Bank helps to Rock the Block
Thanks to Foundation Sponsor Republic Bank for helping to make Rock the Block in Bond Hill possible. With their help and the help of all our sponsors, we were able to complete 32 home repair and beautification projects during the April 29th event. Republic Bank has supported Habitat for Humanity in different capacities for over 8 years. "As a bank, we do a lot of mortgage lending. It’s part of our mission and part of our culture to support neighborhoods and to help people to own their own homes. That's why Republic Bank chooses to support the mission of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati." says Tom Saelinger Market President for Republic Bank Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. "We love being a part of Habitat and Rock the Block because you can really see the difference they make in the community. It’s a great organization and we’re happy to be a part of it. We are very proud to be a sponsor of Rock the Block in Bond Hill and are proud to participate in Team Build Days as well."
- Juneteenth Community Cookout
Monday, June 19, 2023 12:00pm-4:00pm 6409 Simpson Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45224 (Crutchfield Park) Free Register here. Sign-up to volunteer here. Juneteenth Community Cookout
- Increased Independence for Deborah with the Aging in Place Program
Deborah built and bought her home with Habitat over 20 years ago. She reached out to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati's Aging in Place Program to make modifications to her home to help her live safely and independently in her home as she ages. For Deborah, being able to age in her home means that she will be able to continue to be surrounded by her community and the support systems that she built over 20 years. Deborah says, "my neighbors [who also own Habitat homes] have been so delightful since we moved in and got connected here. We actually call each other 'sister-neighbor-friends', and that’s what makes it so good here. We just really kind of bonded and have a kind of kinship. It’s so good for me to have that because I’m an only child. I’m just here, but not on my own because they have become family." Deborah is even the godmother to one of her neighbors' children. With the Repair Program, Deborah was able to convert her bathtub to a walk-in shower, move her washer and drier from the basement to the first floor, and remove a dangerous tree. She says, “it has really given me advantages to be able to maneuver in my home to be able to function better in my home. The shower was hard to get in and out of⎯and then you have that fear of slipping. Now it’s just easy to go right through.” “The new location of the washer and drier is excellent because I don’t have to wrestle the laundry up and down the stairs and worry about falling.” Deborah noticed the huge tree in her backyard started leaning over her neighbor’s houses. She knew it needed to be taken down, but when she got a quote for removal it was over $8,000. “I had so many frightening thoughts every time I saw on the news trees falling on people’s houses. It’s just beautiful the way that Habitat extends this opportunity because I wouldn’t have been able to afford that.” “After all the modifications I was able to make with Habitat, I will be able to stay in my home for much, much longer. The main things that I needed to get done to keep me in my home and to not be limited are complete⎯and it’s a great thing. […] that peace of mind is just wonderful,” says Deborah. When reflecting on her Habitat journey, Deborah says, "it’s a beautiful thing to be a single, African American woman with your own home. There are things that I could say that were not great in my life, but look where I am now and all the wonderful things in my life. And Habitat has always been there for me." Learn more about our programs .