A Full Circle Moment: From Homelessness to Homeownership

A Full Circle Moment: From Homelessness to Homeownership

Growing up in the projects, Altonetta found strength in her upbringing, shaping a vision for a brighter future for her children. She set out to ensure that they would enjoy opportunities and experiences that would empower them to thrive.

Altonetta is now building a brand-new home through Milwaukee Habitat’s Affordable Homeownership program. She tells her story of becoming homeless after high school to her efforts to achieve homeownership.

I am a mother of two and a medical assistant at Ascension Brown Deer. I was originally a front desk worker and then started to use my degree to be a medical assistant.

I’ve always wanted to be a homeowner. I grew up in the projects and I felt like I wanted something of my own to pass on to my children. They can keep it or do whatever they want once [I’m gone]. It will be theirs. 

I love to travel and love being with family. I love to read. I currently am growing my own business making no-bake cheesecakes. Starting a business is an uphill battle and I’ve been doing that on the side for extra cash for the kiddos. 

I am building a legacy and giving my children a better life than I had. It is one of my goals to do better for my kids and better for myself.

I will be able to show my kids that it is possible to have your own and be financially stable. It is hard but not impossible.

My cousin has a Habitat house but even before I learned she did it, I learned about Habitat from my high school. Every year we would raise money every month and it would go toward a Habitat house. Whichever class raised the most money would earn incentives. I didn’t pay attention until senior year and I got all the info for Habitat. I was pregnant with my son then.

I was homeless for a year, hopping house to house and looking for a fast way to get a house. I realized I couldn’t do the Habitat program right now. I was a little discouraged. I didn’t meet any criteria. It was an eye opener. You have to get your stuff together. 

It’s been five or six years since and I was able to get into mentorship with people and take time to fix my credit and save, so when I did reapply, it would be a little easier. It wouldn’t be a long shot anymore.

It’s a full circle moment being able to look back. It took time and it took effort. You have to do better. Be better. I have one little person, two to look after. 

Altonetta’s daughter, Gigi, exploring Milwaukee Habitat’s Headquarters

[When I was younger], my mom and dad weren’t really together. We lived with our mom, and dad would come when he came. People called him the ATM. Whenever there was a bill to pay, he would show up.

Growing up with my mom, she was an alcoholic. I ran away a lot as a kid. It could be dead cold and have no coat on and I would be walking. I didn’t want to be in the environment I was in. It was better to run away and go somewhere I could sleep and not argue than just stay at home. 

School was my outlet. I was in a lot of programs: sponsor scholar, upward bound; I was voted most school spirit. I was in everything: cheerleading, student council, forensics. I was always doing something because I didn’t want to go home. I can stay [at school] and not go home. 

After graduating high school and having her baby, Altonetta moved from house to house until she was able to move into her own apartment. She now lives in a duplex with her two children.

Reflecting on how homeownership will impact her kids’ lives, Altonetta shares:

I think they’re going to be spoiled rotten. I don’t want them to know the struggle. I will teach them so they don’t have to struggle. My 10-year-old is hard headed. I sit up here and try to instill certain things in him, instill responsibility in him. I feel like this will be giving him a better shot at life.

I want them to be able to have the knowledge to not struggle. My siblings and I weren’t taught that. I thought ‘how am I going to get out of this?’. In the community around you, there was hardly any success, living in poverty, living off food stamps. I wasn’t seeing success other than my family supporter.

My aunt is my rock through everything. I consider her my mom. I learned how to clean, learned how to take responsibility for my actions. I can instill the same lessons within my kids.

When Altonetta started her homeownership journey, she knew Habitat was the right fit for her due to the affordability.

I wanted my first house to be something I can afford. I won’t be living beyond my means. If I go down this road, this is something I can afford. I can learn now how to be successful once I do pass this on [to my kids]. I’m going through [Habitat] classes and am taught what to do first.

I think I’m going to cry [when I walk through the door for the first time]. I’ve worked so hard to get to that point, to be really in that moment. I will cry. 

It’s going to mean everything…It’s going to be a full circle moment. You’ve worked for six years learning how to get up here and do the right thing for your family.

Altonetta’s resilience and determination are helping her break the cycle of poverty in her family, allowing her children to thrive in a stable home. For Altonetta, homeownership symbolizes the success of her journey. It is a testament to hard work, sacrifice, and the steadfast commitment to building a better life for her children and for herself.