FAMILY AND CURRENT HOUSING
When future Habitat homeowners are asked why they chose to join the program, a popular response is, “To provide a stable home for my child.” One such parent, Alexsus Gamble, dreams of owning a decent, affordable home where she can raise her son in a safe environment. Levi, Alexsus’ son, was born two weeks premature and spent his first seven weeks hospitalized for issues related to underdeveloped lungs. At the time she gave birth, Alexsus was pursuing a degree in massage therapy while living with her parents to save money. Although grateful for a roof over her head, Alexsus and her son became quite crowded in the three-bedroom home that housed seven people. The home was also not a smoke-free environment which negatively impacted Levi’s respiratory problems. After briefly considering a move to a rental, Alexsus decided to pursue homeownership when she heard about Habitat’s housing program.
A BRIGHT FUTURE
During her months of involvement with Habitat, Alexsus has invested numerous sweat equity hours at ReStore and in House2Home classes learning valuable homeownership and maintenance skills, and personal and financial wellness education. Now that she has selected a rehab home in Massillon, Alexsus is eager to put sweat equity in on her own future home. As she works hard to provide for her family financially, Alexsus is currently working two jobs in the healthcare and massage therapy industries. She’s making short-term sacrifices, balancing her work, raising her son, and completing weekly Habitat sweat equity requirements for a long-term gain. When asked what she looks forward to at the completion of this program, Alexsus responded, “Just knowing that I will be owning my OWN home — having a place that is mine and not paying rent or living at home which makes me feel I am going nowhere.”
