Meet Jill Cooper

For Jill Cooper, home has always been about family. A lifelong Cleveland resident, she has spent the past 15 years as a nurse and now works as a nursing tutor, helping prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals. In addition to her career, Jill is the primary caregiver for her mother, balancing work and family with compassion and dedication.

Her greatest source of pride is her 15-year-old daughter, Iris. Together, they love spending time outdoors, making music, and learning side by side. Iris has followed in her mother's footsteps by tutoring others and is preparing to begin college at just 15 years old. Along with their two parakeets and cat, they currently share a home with Jill's mother. While they are grateful to be together, the space has become crowded, and Jill dreams of giving her family a place of their own.

Jill has known about Habitat for Humanity for years and even volunteered while she was in nursing school. Although she believed homeownership through Habitat was possible, she admits she was "too scared to hope for it." Learning that she had been accepted into the program felt surreal. As a first-time homeowner, she looks forward to something many people take for granted: peace, quiet, a comfortable place to rest, and an office where she can continue working from home. She is especially excited to watch Iris make the new house their own by decorating each room.

When asked what homeownership means to her, Jill's answer always comes back to her daughter. "I am so happy to build a future for her," she says. Reflecting on this new chapter, Jill simply adds, "God is good. He answers prayers."