The Volunteering Page of Emily Helaney

Family and Current Housing 

Born and raised in Massillon, Ohio, Amyah Radel is determined to build a stable future for herself and her three-year-old daughter, Amina, in the city she calls home. Like many families, affordable housing has proven to be a significant barrier. Amyah applied for Section 8 subsidized housing and has remained on the waitlist, but due to high demand, she was unable to secure a unit through the program. 

With limited options, she was forced to lease a private, market-rate rental, one she was told had been recently renovated. Instead, she encountered a host of serious problems: a leaking basement, electrical boxes not up to code, and a rodent infestation in the backyard that keeps Amina from playing outside. The unit is both costly and increasingly difficult to maintain safely. 

Facing high housing costs, deteriorating conditions, and the constant uncertainty of not having a lasting solution, Amyah's mother encouraged her to apply to the Habitat program. For Amyah, homeownership represents more than four walls. It means stability, safety, and a real foundation for her future. 

Since partnering with Habitat for Humanity, Amyah has been steadily committed to the affordable homeownership program. She has completed sweat equity hours at Habitat ReStore, in the Habitat workshop, and on build sites alongside community volunteers. In spring 2025, she completed Habitat's 12-week homebuyer education program, building skills in budgeting, financial planning, home maintenance, and much more. 

A Bright Future 

Amyah has worked as a Direct Service Provider at Buckeye Person Services for the past four years. When she's not working, she enjoys the simplicity of spending time with Amina and family. She knows that homeownership is a crucial next step in her life, an opportunity to trade uncertainty for stability while opening doors of opportunity that help her daughter grow and thrive. After years of renting, Amyah is looking forward to space that is finally hers, with a front porch to sit on, a backyard where Amina can play, and an affordable home in her own hometown.