The Volunteering Page of Emerson Lancaster

family and current housing
When Habitat staff sat down with future homeowner Lisa Lee to talk about her journey to homeownership and what this will mean to her family, she opened up about the difference it will make to live in an actual home for the first time ever after years of renting apartments. “I’m excited because I’m able to finally have a secure home for my family,” Lisa explained. “I’m excited that they’re going to have their own yard to play in, they’ll have their own rooms.” For the past two years, the Lee family has lived in small, two bedroom apartment in Massillon. Off-site maintenance for the apartment is very slow to address any concerns. For example, it took two weeks for the electric heat in her living room and kitchen to be fixed when it quit working this past winter. Electric outlets throughout are unusable. Their apartment is on the top floor and it becomes very hot in the summer with only a small AC wall unit in the living room to cool it down. During the warmer months there is also an unexplainable sulfur smell that permeates the whole building. When Lisa heard about the Habitat program from a co-worker, she jumped at the chance to finally end the cycle of renting and own her own home for the first time. Her main source of motivation is her sons, Malik and London. “I think it will give them a sense of being together and a sense of security. They’ll know we won’t have to move in a couple years, or be quiet because there are people [living] beneath us, and be free to laugh, run, and play.” As a mother, Lisa desires her boys to know they are loved and cared for. Pursuing homeownership “makes me feel like I’m doing my job as a parent,” said Lisa. “It makes me feel like I’m doing what I’m supposed to do. Being able to come home and know that they’re okay, they’re safe, and they have a place to call home.”

a bright future
During her time in the Habitat program, Lisa will invest numerous hours of sweat equity at ReStore, on worksites, and in House2Home education classes learning valuable skills regarding homeownership, maintenance, and personal and financial wellness. She will also have the opportunity to help create the home she will one day purchase. In addition to completing sweat equity hours and raising her boys, Lisa works hard at her job at a local medical office to provide financially for her family. As much as she is sacrificing to reach her goal, Lisa recognizes that her boys are as well. “They’re sacrificing time we have on Saturdays and they know when I come to volunteer it’s going towards our home. They never argue with me about where I’m going or why we can’t spend that time together. I’m proud that they’re excited for this adventure.” Soon, all their hard work and sacrifice will pay off and the Lees will have a home to call their own. “I know walking up to the front door, unlocking that door with both boys with me, I’m going to be crying,” Lisa said. “I’m going to feel like I’ve finally arrived, finally made it to be able to provide that home for my family.” But Lisa also recognizes the team effort this is. “Just to know that there’s volunteers out there and people donating to help people they don’t know, they are total strangers and they are helping me build my home,” Lisa emotionally expressed. “It means a lot to know there are people out there that care enough to give us this opportunity.”