Stephinika

“Easy. I can breathe.”

This is how 35-year-old Stephinika pictures life in her new home. She hasn’t always had the luxury of breathing easily, whether a symptom of her asthma or the effects of living without air conditioning in the scorching summers.

“Home is where you're supposed to be at peace,” Stephinika says, “Where you can dump off all your other worries and not add on.”

Peace is not something she and her two children, K’Lee (10) and Jarrett (5), have found in their two bedroom, two bathroom apartment. A neglectful maintenance staff has left Stephinika without basic utilities. Three hundred dollars worth of groceries went to waste when her refrigerator was broken for several days. For years, a leaking pipe has rendered one of her toilets unusable. And, perhaps the most haunting thought for a mother, her front door does not securely lock.

As K’Lee and Jarrett get older, the necessity for their own rooms increases. Even with all the neglected repairs, Stephinika’s landlord has implemented a monthly increase in rent until it reaches $750.

Stephinika was feeling hopeless. She said she was tired of paying rent so someone else could have a great life. She wanted to own her own home, but the odds were against her. Real estate prices are high and down payments are difficult to save for as a single mom. When a coworker suggested Habitat for Humanity, Stephinika jumped at the chance to apply.

A few days before Thanksgiving that year, she received a phone call from the Habitat office informing her of her acceptance to the program. “I cried for about an hour because I was unsure what I was going to do if I did not get approved,” she said.

A partnership with Habitat meant Stephinika could gain the confidence and experience she felt she needed to become a homeowner. Habitat homeowners complete financial education, and learn the skills to maintain their home, then they purchase that home with an interest-free, affordable mortgage. Stephinika explained exactly that: “You have to work for it. It makes you want to keep it.”

Stephinika’s home is currently under construction and estimated to be finished in April. When it's completed, Stephinika will finally be able to breathe easily. She is excited to be able to hang family photos on the walls, play with the dog in the backyard, and feel safe and secure. This is more than a home, Stephinika said. “You’ve essentially built a family.”

If Stephinika’s story moves you, there are many future homeowners just like her who could really use your support. You can find the ‘donate’ button and links to learn more about Habitat on our homepage.

Stephinika’s home kicked off at Habitat’s 2021Women Build event, presented by AnMed Health.