2025 Orthodox Build | Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

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About the Johnson Family

Family and Current Housing

Ideeya (Deeya) grew up in Canton with her parents and siblings. Her parents transitioned from renting to owning their own home, a journey that inspired her own dream of homeownership. After her divorce, Deeya moved into her current rental, where she has lived for the past seven years. Initially part of a rent-to-own program, the property was sold to a management company, eliminating the possibility of ownership. Without the previous program’s protections, rent increases have created a financial strain, and maintenance requests often go unaddressed. Despite these challenges, Deeya remains hopeful and excited to learn how to care for her future home. Encouraged by friends who own Habitat for Humanity homes, Deeya applied to the Habitat Homeownership Program. Taking this step has brought her closer to achieving her dream of owning a stable and affordable home. She has worked diligently in the program, participating in sweat equity assignments and completing her homebuyer education classes in the fall of 2024. These classes equipped her with essential knowledge on financial wellness and home maintenance, empowering her for the responsibilities of homeownership.

A Bright Future

Deeya has worked in customer service at Cigna for the past two years. Before that, she worked for a company that volunteered on Habitat projects, giving her the opportunity to experience the rewarding work of building homes. This experience further deepened her desire to become a homeowner. Her two oldest children, Zion and Zada, are navigating their paths and working to save for their futures. Zachary, her youngest, is a student at St. Thomas Aquinas High School and is currently in remission after bravely undergoing two rounds of treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Deeya describes her children as shy but deeply connected, enjoying time spent together on family trips and shared activities.