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  2. Barnett Family | 2018 Stark Faith Build
  3. Steve Croston
Barnett Family | 2018 Stark Faith Build logo
family and current housing
After years of transitioning between government housing, private rentals, and living with family, Massillon native and Habitat Partner Family, Shanae Barnett is ready for the security that will come with owning her own home. Currently, Shanae and her five sons are living in a three bedroom home in Massillon that is owned by her ex-husband. When he left the family years ago, he stopped making mortgage payments on the home which is now in foreclosure. Although not legally responsible for the mortgage, Shanae tried to keep the home from foreclosure, but the severe delinquency and high monthly mortgage were not feasible for the now single mother. While starting over as a single mother in her 40s was not something Shanae anticipated, she is determined to achieve a fresh start and provide a safe, permanent place for her sons to call home with the help of Habitat for Humanity. Shanae’s boys are active young men and together the family enjoys sports, fishing, swimming, watching movies, riding bikes, and planting flowers and shrubs around their home. In fact, Shanae has quite the green thumb and does freelance landscaping to help provide financially for her family. Even though she does not know when her family will be evicted from their current home, the lawn is littered with potted plants and a garden in an effort to spruce up its appearance. Shanae looks forward to the day she and her sons can landscape in her very own yard.

a bright future
During her months involved in the Habitat program, Shanae has invested numerous sweat equity hours on worksites and in House2Home education classes where she learned valuable skills regarding homeownership, maintenance, and personal and financial wellness. She also completes one sweat equity day per week at the Habitat ReStore where her consistent attendance has made her a valuable part of the ReStore team. Shanae looks forward to soon completing sweat equity on her own future home alongside her sons. Right now, Shanae is balancing a lot between work, raising her sons, and completing the weekly Habitat sweat equity requirements, but she knows she is ultimately making a short term sacrifice for a long term gain. When asked what she looks forward to about being a homeowner, Shanae responded, "I look forward to saying this is our home and no one can take it away from us. My sons will not have to worry about bills not being paid and losing the roof over their heads."

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volunteers
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Location / Venue

  • Address:
  • 830 Hall Court Southeast
  • Massillon, OH 44646
  • USA
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.