The Block That Changed Everything

The Block That Changed Everything

Quanesha watched Habitat homes rise on her block. From foundation pour to move-in date, she watched the empty lot next to her rental home become a Habitat house. Today, she is surrounded by Habitat homeowners, and soon, she will become one herself.

After renting for years in the same neighborhood, Quanesha was inspired by all of the Habitat homeowners on her block. A few years ago, her neighbor, Colette, built and purchased her Habitat home and it inspired Quanesha to do the same.

“I watched people build her home,” Quanesha said. “It made me feel tired of renting. I want to go into the Habitat program because I’ve watched people live it…To see them build the house pushed me. Habitat has beautiful homes. I want to be like that.”

Now, inspired by her neighbors, Quanesha is building her own beautiful home. 

One of Quanesha’s biggest motivations is her three-year-old daughter, Erica.

“Everytime I look at my daughter, she is my boost,” Quanesha said. “I can do it with you girl. I wouldn’t have done it if it weren’t for my daughter. It’s going to benefit her.”

Recently, Quanesha brought Erica to see the construction progress on their home. Although Erica might not fully grasp the concept of homeownership yet, she is excited to have a place where she can bring all her dolls.

“She asked ‘are we going to bring all the babies?’,” Quanesha said. “I told her, ‘yes you can bring all the babies.”

While Erica imagines playing with her toys, Quanesha is imagining her new yard. She looks forward to gardening and taking pride in and caring for a space of her own.

“I’m an outdoor person,” Quanesha said. “I love to do my yard. I’ll be mowing my own grass this time.”

She is also documenting her journey to one day share with Erica.

“I have a notebook for her,” Quanesha said. “I write stuff down, everything I go through now. She’s going to read the notebook someday and understand everything.”

All of this makes the thought of move-in day even more meaningful. When she finally receives her keys, Quanesha knows the moment will be filled with emotion and pride.

“It’s going to feel great. There will be a lot of tears,” Quanesha said. “Me and you, Erica. We made it. It takes time, but we are going to get there.”

After years of renting, she’s ready to replace her current keys with the ones that open the door to her very own home.

“It’s going to mean so much,” Quanesha said. “Right now I have renters keys. But to have my own keys, that means it’s my home.”