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RiverTree 2020 | Constable Family Build logo
Worksite Health and Safety: We're requiring everyone on our worksites to wear a mask so that we protect the health of our volunteers, staff and community. If you have a condition that prevents you from wearing a mask, we ask you volunteer with us once masks are no longer required on Habitat worksites. Thanks for your understanding.  Please check your temperature before arriving at the Habitat worksite. If it is 100.4 degrees or higher or you are experiencing any other symptoms of illness including cough, shortness of breath, or muscle aches, please stay home and call 330-312-3419 to cancel. Scroll down to learn about additional health and safety precautions you can expect while volunteering with us.

family and current housing
Jessica Constable is a hardworking, single mother pursuing the opportunity of safe, decent, affordable housing for her family. After years of renting in oftentimes substandard conditions, Jessica was introduced to Habitat by a friend who had recently purchased a Habitat home. For several years, Jessica had lived in an SMHA (Stark Metropolitan Housing Authority) duplex with her daughter. When she began a new job with an increased income, her rent at the duplex also increased so she decided to move into a private rental home. After being there for a year, it became clear that the home had some issues including: no screens in the windows; cracks on the walls and ceilings throughout; a leak in the kitchen ceiling even after repairs were made to the roof; missing gutters, window frames, and shingles; and an ongoing problem with fuses blowing while doing laundry. The home also had a bat infestation that eventually led to the family moving into a new rental while they wait for their Habitat home to be completed. That is a day Jessica is eagerly looking forward to. “The joy it will bring me to walk into my home after being in the program and building up the expectation of what it’s going to be, I will feel such joy,” expressed Jessica.“This is a dream come true, I’m finally a homeowner, this is our home!” Jessica’s daughter, Karlie, is also excited to move into a new home. The eleven-year-old hopes for a pink bedroom and a yard where she can spend her days. An outdoor enthusiast, Karlie is a cheerleader and horseback rider. “I am super excited about the Habitat house,” said Karlie. “My mom tells me everything that happens on Saturdays and it sounds so fun to do all that. She is so excited and deserves the Habitat house because she puts all her effort into getting it.”

a bright future
Karlie’s words about her mother are certainly true. Since joining the program, Jessica has invested numerous sweat equity hours at ReStore, in House2Home education classes, and on worksites. She especially enjoyed learning alongside other Partner Families while enrolled in Foundations and Financial Success classes. In addition to sweat equity, Jessica also works fulltime with a local home health care agency. “You’re putting in your sweat, blood, and tears, but it’s worth it because you’re building a foundation for yourself and for other families,” explained Jessica when asked about the sacrifices she is making to secure housing for her family. “Everyone thinks you’re just getting a home for free because you’re coming to Habitat and working 5-20 hours a month. But you’re not. You’re paying for it. You have to save money every month and you will have to make a mortgage payment. You’re putting in time for the interest – the sweat equity is the interest earned.” It is clear that Jessica understands the “hand-up, not a hand-out” Habitat model and, soon, she will complete the hand-up partnership and be a new homeowner!

Location / Venue

Habitat for Humanity East Central Ohio logo
In Support of Habitat for Humanity East Central Ohio
As a grassroots Christian housing ministry serving Stark, Carroll, Tuscarawas, Harrison, and Jefferson Counties, Habitat for Humanity East Central Ohio is driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live. People partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering, or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability, and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. To learn more, visit habitateco.org.