Habitat charlotte Success stories

Simone Dean

Simone Dean never thought she would be able to afford her own home with one income and two children to support. But one day while walking through her neighborhood she came across a flyer about Habitat for Humanity. Simone was very excited about the opportunity and decided to apply to the program. She was accepted and after a year-long process, she and her family moved in. For Simone, Habitat was a true lifesaver.

During her time as a homeowner-in-process, she learned how to budget money and began saving which later gave her the freedom to send both of her children to college. Several years after moving in to her Habitat home, she was laid off from her job as a hosiery packer at Highland Mills. Her family encouraged her to turn to her true passion for baking. As a result, Simone enrolled in culinary school at Central Piedmont Community College.

After finishing school, Simone turned her love for baking into a career. She is now the proud owner of Deanlicious Desserts. She bakes her goods with the belief that hopes and dreams can come true. Deanlicious Desserts now caters events for up to 350 people. Simone’s story has come full circle. She also sells her baked goodies to Julia’s Coffee – a fundraising store for Habitat. It’s Simone’s way of giving back to the community that gave her a hand up.

Ksor Family

When Weh Ksor arrived in Charlotte as a refugee from Vietnam he had one goal in mind: establishing himself and sending for his wife and two children. After working long hours and saving extensively for 3 years, Weh could finally afford to send for his loved ones.

Although Weh was excited to have the entire family back together again, he wasn’t thrilled about the living arrangements the family had come to in America. But home ownership seemed impossible for Weh, considering the high cost of rent for a small apartment and other living expenses.

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Young Women Homeowners on the Rise

Felicia is a young mother with a son who closed on her first house through Habitat Charlotte. She's also part of a growing Habitat Charlotte and national trend that shows younger, single women are buying homes more than ever before.

Like many women in Charlotte, Graham illustrates the increase in home purchases by young, single women over the past few years with Habitat Charlotte. Nancy Pugh, Family Programs Coordinator for Habitat Charlotte, was responsible for helping Graham through her Habitat home-buying process.

“That was one of the most positive experiences I've had lately," said Pugh.

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Ship Family

Ms. Ship grew up in the foster care system.  It wasn’t easy, and her story isn't typical.  Born in Charlotte, Ms. Ship is the oldest of seven children.  Unfortunately, her biological parents could not care for all them and as a result, the seven siblings ended up in and out of different foster homes over the years. Ms. Ship and her younger sister were able to stay together for the most part and were in the fostercare system until she aged out at 18 years old. Currently, Ms. Ship works full time and is the proud mother of two beautiful children. Ms. Ship’s success is one of the many reasons the “Building Homes - Building Families” project exists.

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