“This is our home”, Claudette’s 8-year old daughter whispered to her. “Always and forever”, answered Claudette.
Their Christmas is going to be full of boxes – moving boxes. Claudette and her daughters will be celebrating Christmas in their very own Habitat home.
Almost a year and a half ago, Claudette applied to Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties. Once approved for the program, Claudette completed home maintenance and financial management classes. Working alongside Habitat volunteers she contributed 300 hours of sweat equity, then paid $1,700 in closing cost, and finally, just three days before Christmas, she signed the mortgage to purchase her Habitat home.
“Before Habitat, I had to move in with my mom because the rent kept going up. I’m grateful to my mom, but space was tight. Not only were we sharing the house with my parents, but also, my sister and her three kids. There were 11 people in her three bedroom, one bath house”, said Claudette.
“Now that I have an affordable mortgage payment every month, I am hoping to save up for a swing set. The girls are so excited to play in the backyard. This is truly our Christmas miracle”.
“The need for affordable housing in Lee and Hendry counties is great”, said Kitty Green, Habitat President and CEO. “An average of 14 families apply for every one house that we have the funds to build.”
Each Habitat partner family earns and purchases their house, providing their families a safe, decent and affordable place to call home.
Claudette’s dream of purchasing her own home has come true. Christmas will be a little different this year, as they move and unpack boxes, but Claudette says it will be the best Christmas yet, because they are finally home.
