Habitat for Humanity East Central Ohio
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    Family and Current Housing Aquilah and her children currently reside with her mother due to unsafe encounters with neighbors at their previous apartment. Although her mother plans to move out of state soon, Aquilah has been on the Section 8 program waiting list for over a year. Finding affordable rental options for her three-person family has been challenging, and their current two-bedroom house has various issues. Aquilah sleeps on the couch so her children can share a bedroom, and the house exhibits signs of water damage and uneven floors. Electrical problems, such as outlets falling out of the walls, pose safety hazards for her children, and there’s also a mice problem. Recent gunshots in the neighborhood have added to the family’s concerns. Aquilah struggles with the feeling of being a burden to her mother and the inability to provide a decent home for her children. Aquilah has achieved acceptance into the Habitat for Humanity homeownership program, a source of great pride for her. Actively addressing her housing situation, she participates in mandatory homebuyer educational classes covering financial wellness and home maintenance. Aquilah is committed to her journey towards homeownership, contributing sweat equity hours to help other Habitat partner families build their homes and working at the Habitat ReStore.

    A Bright Future Aquilah, employed as a Member Services Representative at Liberty HealthShare, works from home. She envisions not only a great place to live but also a private space to perform her job. The Johnson family enjoys bonding over popcorn and scary movies, as well as watching and playing football together. Aquilah admires her children’s dedication to sports and brotherly bond. Despite initial challenges, Jaymir’s improved school achievements showcase the positive impact of Aquilah’s intentional efforts in establishing a solid routine. Aquilah is confident that a safe and stable home will propel her family forward, breaking the generational housing barriers they’ve faced. She anticipates her children experiencing the joy of ownership in their new home, marking a significant step in securing a successful future for all three of them.

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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.