Meet Shelley Dean

Four years ago, Shelley Dean moved to Cleveland to be closer to family after losing her husband to COVID-19. It was a fresh start during a season of significant change, and since then, she has worked to build a new life while looking toward the future with hope.

Shelley enjoys the simple things in life. She loves reading, watching movies, and spending time with her two Shih Tzus, Markie and Elvis. For more than 30 years, she has worked as a nail technician, building lasting relationships with the people she serves.

Shelley's journey has not always been easy. After aging out of the foster care system, she learned early on how to rely on her own strength and perseverance. Today, she is most proud of where life has brought her and the person those experiences have shaped her to become.

Currently living in a townhouse rental, Shelley looks forward to having a home that is truly her own. Homeownership through Habitat for Humanity will provide greater financial stability as she plans for retirement and the opportunity to slow down and enjoy this next chapter of life.

More than anything, Shelley can't wait for a backyard and a front porch she can finally make her own. She has always loved decorating her porch with baskets of colorful flowers, but she's been waiting for a forever home before planting those roots. Soon, she'll have a place where every flower, every season, and every memory belongs to her.

For Shelley, home represents peace, permanence, and the chance to enjoy the life she has worked so hard to build.