Ashanti smiles happily in her new Habitat home.
At just 21 years old, Ashanti achieved what many Americans spend their whole lives working toward: becoming a homeowner.
When Ashanti first came to Habitat, she was living in an overcrowded house and sharing a room with her younger sister.
Despite holding a steady job in local healthcare, Ashanti found homeownership out of reach. Habitat became her stepping stone toward independence.
Ashanti’s home sponsors, the Habitat for Humanity of Lee & Hendry Counties ReStore team, celebrating at Ashanti’s home dedication.
Ashanti poured her energy into Habitat’s Affordable Homeownership Program, completing 300 sweat equity hours, attending more than 20 hours of homeownership education classes, and paying $2,000 toward closing costs.
“I would have to get up at six and do the volunteer hours, then go straight to work, but I knew I had to do it,” she said.
Her commitment paid off in November 2023. Ashanti celebrated her new home at her dedication ceremony with loved ones, Habitat staff, and the Habitat ReStore staff, who generously sponsored her home.
“I would describe it as unreal,” Ashanti said while looking back on the day. “I just couldn’t believe that something like that was happening to me.”
Ashanti’s decorated and furnished home after moving in.
A month later, she officially closed on her home. Since then, Ashanti has embraced the responsibilities and joys that come with owning a home.
Now, Ashanti is setting her sights on her next goal: paying off her mortgage.
Ashanti’s story stands out in today’s housing market, where the median age of first-time homebuyers has climbed to 38, nearly a decade older than in the 1980s, according to the National Association of Realtors.
Her story proves what is possible when the right opportunities, like those at Habitat for Humanity, open doors to affordable homeownership.
“There’s a lot of young people my age that don’t know they’re able to do this as well,” Ashanti said, encouraging younger people to pursue affordable homeownership through Habitat.
