family and current housingFamilies apply to the Habitat program seeking not just homeownership, but the stability it provides. Throughout her adult life, future homeowner Theresa Morgan has called numerous places “home,” including rental apartments, SMHA (Stark Metropolitan Housing Authority) properties, private rental homes, and the homes of friends and family. Issues with her current rental led Theresa to Habitat with the hope of purchasing a home that she can finally call her own. For the past year and a half, Theresa and her family have lived in a small apartment in Canton. Although grateful for a place to live and the quiet apartment community, Theresa is frustrated by the lack of support from the rental company when it comes to maintenance issues. For example, the thermostat in the apartment is broken and even if she turns it off, the baseboard heat continues to run until the apartment becomes unbearably hot. When she calls to have this issue fixed, she is told to just open the windows and let the outside air cool down the apartment. This, however, is not a viable option because none of the windows have screens even though she requested they be installed. Also, Theresa pays the electric bill at the apartment and is frustrated that the faulty thermostat results in high monthly bills. Theresa’s apartment is also a bit crowded for the family of three. In the home and sharing a bedroom are Theresa’s adopted daughter, Jheri, and Theresa’s grandson, Zy’Miere. Jheri is autistic and Zy’Miere struggles with health problems including the loss of his eyesight as the result of a car accident when he was a toddler. Theresa is committed to providing the best care for Jheri and Zy’Miere and, right now, that means a safe, stable home environment. In addition to the young people currently living with her, Theresa has several other adult children and grandchildren that she looks forwarding to hosting for holidays and family gatherings. She knows, without a doubt, owning her own home will truly be a blessing.
a bright future
Knowing the end result will be a new home of her own, Theresa is committed to working hard and completing sweat equity requirements while in the Habitat program. She is currently enrolled in the House2Home education series learning practical skills to help her succeed as a homeowner. In addition to completing the weekly Habitat sweat equity hours and raising Jheri and Zy’Miere, Theresa has worked as a manager in the food industry for eighteen years to provide financially for her family. Although sometimes doing all this can seem like a lot, Theresa is committed to making a short term sacrifice for the long term benefit of purchasing her own safe, decent, affordable place to call home. "I have a very good feeling about working hard to better my family and let them know where there’s a will there’s a way," Theresa said. "They are my joy. We have been through a lot, and now I feel that things are coming together. I thank God for His blessings!"
