Editor’s Note: Congratulations to Carol, who closed on her home in May 2020. Thank you to Habitat Orlando & Osceola’s supporters for helping to make this happen!
Standing in front of Silver Pine Pointe’s latest home, Carol looked ready to build a safe, affordable Orlando home: Sunglasses over her eyes, two bandanas covering her head and neck, and a neon green long-sleeved shirt protecting her arms.
This wasn’t her first time on a Habitat for Humanity Greater Orlando & Osceola County build site. Carol was about 50 hours into her 200-hour sweat equity requirement to become a Habitat homeowner. Several homes in Habitat Orlando & Osceola’s newest community had already experienced Carol’s work – everything from installing a lock to raising roof trusses.
Carol even got to meet the homeowners of one house. She said it was thrilling to put a face to the people who would soon call it home. “One day someone too will be building my house,” Carol said. “What a fulfilling feeling.”
Carol was selected as one of our 2020 Builders Blitz homeowners. Carol’s home was constructed during the 2020 Builders Blitz by Park Square Homes, one of six local builders who constructed a home within five days during the event.
In 2019, Carol celebrated her 50th year of living in the United States – her own “jubilee year.” When she was 5 years old, she immigrated from Barbados with her family.
Jubilee’s double meaning for a year of restoration feels particularly poignant.
“This is God’s way of restoring everything that I’ve lost,” Carol said.
Carol’s housing situation has been tenuous over the last few years. Most recently, Carol moved out of her home of three years, which was owned by a family member, saying she felt pressured to vacate the house. She is currently renting.
“Habitat has come along, and I think rescued me,” Carol said. “If it wasn’t for this right now, I would be moving from apartment to apartment to apartment and the prices in these apartments keep getting higher without us seeing increases in our salaries…very unaffordable.
“With my income, I would have to have maybe two or three jobs to get an apartment that is usually not worth what they’re asking.”
After volunteering at Habitat with her employer, Carol decided to apply to become a future homeowner.
“The day they called me, I just boohooed,” Carol remembered with a laugh.
She looks forward to the stability of owning her own affordable Orlando home. And the yard.
“I’ve been envisioning myself sitting on the porch and just catching the breeze, and having a vegetable garden out back and flowers out front. “God has really been good to me.”
You can help more local families experience the peace and freedom of owning an affordable home. When you donate to Habitat Orlando & Osceola, every dollar helps us build homes and work toward a world where everyone has a safe and affordable place to live. You can make impact lives through homeownership; please give today.
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