Posted Friday, May 21, 2021 7:48 am

By ALLEN MINCEY

She grew up in Knoxville in a Habitat for Humanity home. Now, Kerea Westfield will soon be moving into her own Habitat home as the raising of walls began at a Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland build in the Victory Cove subdivision.

Westfield’s new home, which might be ready for occupancy in August or September, is being built by a group of volunteers labeled “Leaders.” These are individuals in the Cleveland and Bradley County area who are leaders in government, business, industry and non-profit organizations.

One of those leaders is Mike Hayes, vice president of student development at Lee University, who introduced Westfield to a group of volunteers at a special lunch Thursday between building shifts.

“I come out because it's deeply personal to me, and I love the idea of really helping the next generation experience something that perhaps they otherwise could not have,” Hayes said. “So thank you all so much for being part of swinging some hammers today, building some walls that are truly building the sanctuary for this family, and building this community up in really powerful ways.”

Westfield’s home is one of four to be constructed in the Victory Cove subdivision this year. The others include a townhouse, which will house two occupant families, and a house just across Franitza Street from Westfield’s home.

“What's its gonna be like to have a home? Oh my goodness, this just brought a whole new perspective to life, and me and my son are very excited,” Westfield said.

“He has big plans for my guest room, but no, he's not coming in my guest room — he'll be in his own room,” she smiled.

Julio Cerpa, construction manager for Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland, said that the home will be “a three-bedroom, two-bath home, with an open concept in the kitchen and dining area with large windows in the living rooms for plenty of natural light.”

Cerpa said the home could be completed by September, but added there have been obstacles this year due in part to the pandemic.

“This year we're having to make several adjustments because of the increased cost of materials,” he said. “We’ve had anywhere from a 35 to 45 percent increase in materials cost.”

Plus, it has not been as easy to get building materials as before. But, Cerpa said Habitat has persevered and showed off how far they have gotten with the townhomes just down the block from Westfield’s home.

On Thursday, Westfield was right in there hammering nails and moving two-by-fours with the volunteers. That is a part of the agreement with Habitat for Humanity, that the new homeowner will be involved in the building somehow … what the organization calls “sweat equity.”

Westfield said she was aware of Habitat before signing up for a home in 2019.

“I’m from Knoxville originally, and I've been in Cleveland for 16 years and I actually grew up in a Habitat home,” she said. “I vaguely remember building the home with my stepdad and my mom, but I did grow up in a Habitat home.

She said when she moved to Cleveland in 2004, she dropped out of school. Westfield said she worked at a fast-food restaurant for 8 1/2 years, but finally got her GED in 2017, started hair school that year and finished quickly.

“I don't remember which gentleman said perseverance, but to me, that was perseverance,” Westfield said. “When I was doing my GED, that's the word I heard, so when [Habitat] asked me about anything that's been in front of me that I want to do, I would say that ‘I'm not a procrastinator. Whatever I put my mind to, I do it.”

She has already met some of her new neighbors, including one that spurred her to seek the new home through Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland.

“My neighbor, Erica Nelson, actually told me about Habitat in 2018, but she said that she didn’t apply until 2019.

“I believe in God's timing, so for whatever reason I didn't come in 2018, but in 2019, I came and filled my application out, and here I am today with a new home," she said.

Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland also has classes set up for prospective homeowners, so Westfield already knew some of the people who will be moving in to the new homes in 2021.

“In the beginning of this process, it seemed like it would be a long journey, but now it's happening. We're here,” she said. “I'm just so thankful.”

Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland celebrated its 30th year operation in 2020, and since the first homes were built on Starlet Circle, 144 homes have become a part of the Habitat family.

“This means so much to us to have this kind of community support and to know that Habitat would not be what it is without our community, and I love it that the founders made it that way on purpose,” said Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland Executive Director Tammy Johnson. “Thank you for all who worked today, and in the past and the future.”

Inset Quote:

“In the beginning of this process, it seemed like it would be a long journey, but now it's happening. We're here. I'm just so thankful.” — Kerea Westfield