Janice and her home sponsor, the Florida Blue Foundation, at her home dedication.
For 24 years, Janice has worked in our local healthcare system, but even with steady employment, affording a home of her own seemed out of reach. She once lived in a one-bedroom apartment, but after her mother passed and rent became unaffordable, Janice moved in with her daughter.
While she was grateful to be with family, she missed the peace and independence of having her own space. She dreamed of having a home where she could enjoy the small things in life, like getting home from work to relax, watch TV, and read a book in peace.
“I was living with my daughter, but I was ready to get my home,” Janice said.
When she learned of Habitat’s Affordable Homeownership Program, she decided to try her luck. “I’m just gonna try,” Janice recalled. “I didn’t know God was going to bless me like this.”
Once in the program, Janice kept her focus, dedicating herself to the program requirements. She completed 300 hours of sweat equity, attended more than 20 hours of homeownership education classes, and paid $2,000 toward her closing costs. “I loved it,” she said of the Habitat program.
In May, Janice moved into her Habitat home, with monthly payments set at no more than 30% of her income. “It’s real good,” she said. “I’m 64 years old. I wanted to have some place to call my own, and to enjoy something while I’m here on earth.”
Habitat Homeowner Janice outside of her new home.
Thanks to the generosity of the Florida Blue Foundation, Janice is now enjoying life’s quiet moments, especially those that remind her of her late mother. “I love to go out and water my garden, things like my mom did,” she said.
Even though she’s now settled in a space of her own, Janice says her journey with Habitat isn’t over. She still thinks about all the volunteers who helped build her home and feels called to pay it forward.
“When I retire, I’m not going to be sitting down,” she said. “I would like to help others get to where they want to go, like what I got. There ain’t nothing like your own.”
