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FAMILY AND CURRENT HOUSING
After spending nearly her entire life living in Section 8 or government housing, Canton native Charlene Richards is ready to finally become a homeowner with the help of the Habitat program. Currently, Charlene and her daughters are living in a Stark Metropolitan Housing Authority (SMHA) scatter-site house. While she is grateful for the assistance she has received from SMHA, Charlene’s home does have some structural problems including plumbing issues in the upstairs bathroom that resulted in water damage on the kitchen ceiling and some faulty electrical outlets. Charlene’s basement often floods when it rains and there is mold on the basement walls. More than anything, Charlene wants to put her money toward a home she will own and can leave to her girls. Eighteen-year-old Shekia and sixteen-year old Shekannah are students at McKinley High School. Charlene puts in long hours at work and both girls are busy with school and work, however, they set time aside on Sundays to eat dinner together and go shopping or to the movies. When talking about her daughters, it is very clear that Charlene is proud to be their mother and provide them with a safe, new home.
After spending nearly her entire life living in Section 8 or government housing, Canton native Charlene Richards is ready to finally become a homeowner with the help of the Habitat program. Currently, Charlene and her daughters are living in a Stark Metropolitan Housing Authority (SMHA) scatter-site house. While she is grateful for the assistance she has received from SMHA, Charlene’s home does have some structural problems including plumbing issues in the upstairs bathroom that resulted in water damage on the kitchen ceiling and some faulty electrical outlets. Charlene’s basement often floods when it rains and there is mold on the basement walls. More than anything, Charlene wants to put her money toward a home she will own and can leave to her girls. Eighteen-year-old Shekia and sixteen-year old Shekannah are students at McKinley High School. Charlene puts in long hours at work and both girls are busy with school and work, however, they set time aside on Sundays to eat dinner together and go shopping or to the movies. When talking about her daughters, it is very clear that Charlene is proud to be their mother and provide them with a safe, new home.
A BRIGHT FUTURE
During her months involved in the Habitat program, Charlene has invested numerous sweat equity hours at ReStore and in House2Home education classes where she learned valuable skills regarding homeownership, maintenance, and personal and financial wellness. Now that she has selected the location of her future home, Charlene is eager to complete sweat equity on her worksite and physically help with the construction of her home alongside her daughters. In addition to completing sweat equity, Charlene has provided for her family financially by working midnights at Kraft Heinz for the past ten years. Because her job involves cleaning machinery and lots of dishes, Charlene jokingly refers to work as her big kitchen. Right now, Charlene is balancing a lot between work, raising her daughters, 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, Charlene responded, “Being able to say that it is mine and having something to leave my kids!”
During her months involved in the Habitat program, Charlene has invested numerous sweat equity hours at ReStore and in House2Home education classes where she learned valuable skills regarding homeownership, maintenance, and personal and financial wellness. Now that she has selected the location of her future home, Charlene is eager to complete sweat equity on her worksite and physically help with the construction of her home alongside her daughters. In addition to completing sweat equity, Charlene has provided for her family financially by working midnights at Kraft Heinz for the past ten years. Because her job involves cleaning machinery and lots of dishes, Charlene jokingly refers to work as her big kitchen. Right now, Charlene is balancing a lot between work, raising her daughters, 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, Charlene responded, “Being able to say that it is mine and having something to leave my kids!”
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Location / Venue
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- Address:
- 2222 8th Street NE
- Canton, OH 44703
- USA
- Time:
- Jun 20, 2017 8:30am - 2:30pm
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.