Posted Saturday, October 19, 2019 9:23 pm
By CHRISTY ARMSTRONG
Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland has dedicated its fourth and final home for 2019. Single mother Brenda Walker received the keys to her new home Thursday evening.
Her home, built in Habitat’s Victory Cove subdivision, was the 139th home the local organization has built in Bradley County.
“From the bottom of my heart, I’m truly blessed to have this opportunity to become a homeowner,” Walker said. “I’m just so, so happy it’s finally here.”
Habitat for Humanity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which helps people achieve their dreams of homeownership. With help from donors and volunteers, new homes are constructed with specific homeowners in mind.
Homeowners also contribute to the projects by volunteering “sweat equity” hours and making mortgage payments toward after the low-cost home builds are complete.
The project resulting in Walker’s new home was known as the “Heroes Build,” because the house was built with help from military veterans and first responders.
“Our Bradley County Habitat has many heroes who have helped Brenda Walker build her home,” said Tammy Johnson, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland. “Our heroes have been firefighters from Wacker, veterans from Whirlpool and Lee University and first responders from Tennova.
“Russell Cellular, Verizon and Samsung also stepped up this year to honor our heroes with their volunteer time and financial gifts,” Johnson added. “These organizations, our volunteers and donors have been the heroes of Brenda’s story, and we couldn’t have accomplished the completion of our 139th home without you!”
The new homeowner also volunteered 300 hours of her own, working on her home and in the Habitat ReStore on Grove Avenue.
Walker, who works full-time as a medical office assistant at Tennova Pediatric and Primary Care, said it was a challenge to fit in all the hours. However, she said she is thrilled to finally be able to move into her new home.
Walker, 48, is a first-time homeowner. She is a single mother of two grown children: Brandon, 24, and Megan, 21. She also has a 3-year-old granddaughter named Evelynn Brook.
Citing financial challenges which came with raising children as a single mother, she said homeownership has long felt out of her reach. However, she is “just thrilled” Habitat has allowed her to pursue homeownership.
She previously lived in a duplex converted from an older home which had a sinking foundation, floors which were not level, water leaks and cracks which allowed rodents inside. She also had high electric bills and was paying 47% of her monthly income for housing.
Walker learned of the Habitat opportunity from her best Delia Meroney, who is also a Habitat homeowner. She said taking her friend’s advice to pursue homeownership through Habitat is “one of the best decisions” she has made.
“I take care of my granddaughter in a place that is more welcoming and safer for her,” Walker said. “I also get to show her and the rest of my family reaching goals like homeownership is possible.”
Though this is the local Habitat chapter's final home build of the year, plans are in the works for four more homes to be built in 2020.
For more information on how to become a Habitat homeowner or volunteer, visit www.habitatofcleveland.org or call 423-476-6947.
