“This is Ours”: Shay’s Journey to Homeownership

“This is Ours”: Shay’s Journey to Homeownership

Shay is ready to break free from the cycle of renting and achieve her dream of homeownership. As she puts it, when you rent, “you pay a lot to get a little.” 

Shay currently lives in a rental home with her sons and dreams of covering the walls in photos, which she is unable to do due to the landlord’s restrictions.

“When renting, you can’t put pictures up on the wall, so I don’t have any pictures on the walls,” Shay said. “The kids take pictures every couple months; I want to have pictures all over.”

A school social worker in the Milwaukee Public School system, Shay is passionate about helping others. 

“I love working with children and being part of the community,” Shay said. “For me, I just like to help people…that makes me feel whole.”

When Shay decided she was ready to begin her homeownership journey, she searched Milwaukee homeownership programs online and Milwaukee Habitat’s Affordable Homeownership program popped up. When the application opened, she submitted the necessary information and then was accepted into the program. Shay is now building a brand-new home for her and her sons through Milwaukee Habitat’s Affordable Homeownership program.

Employees from Wells Fargo, the sponsor of Shay’s home, volunteering on site

“I was extremely excited about it,” Shay said. “I felt like ‘okay, it’s happening.’”

For Shay, homeownership is not only a personal achievement, but also a learning opportunity for herself and her sons.

“I want to build generational wealth and I want to teach them about homeownership,” Shay said. “I’m learning too. It’s a whole learning process.”

Recognizing that owning a home comes with new challenges and responsibilities, Shay is ready to face them head-on while teaching her boys to do the same.

“If there’s a hole in the wall, you fix it,” Shay said. “I am teaching them that you have to work for the things you want. [I am teaching] them patience.” 

As someone who pays a significant amount in rent every month, Shay is thrilled about the financial freedom she will gain with a Habitat mortgage.

“I will definitely be able to save more,” Shay said. “I’m paying for daycare and rent and all of that; it’s a lot when you think about it. I’ll be able to save more and that means that we will be able to travel more.”

Shay knows she will feel accomplished when she completes the program and moves into her new home with her sons.

“It’s going to be a good feeling,” Shay said. “It’s something I put together for me and my boys.”

As she prepares for homeownership, Shay envisions the day she can first walk through the door:

“When I cut the ribbon, I want to go in and say ‘this is ours.’” 

Soon, Shay will be able to do just that.