Brittany is a family-oriented, hard-working mother of one daughter, Parker. She grew up in Evansville with three sisters and a brother. She and her daughter love to go to the children’s museum, the zoo, and to the library, where Parker loves to find books with animals in them.
Brittany works as a receptionist at the Eye Group, where she has been for the last year. She and her daughter have been living in an apartment, but the rent has been increasing every year. She has been actively trying to better that situation, but it has been a challenge for her to find safe, affordable and stable housing.
Brittany knew about Habitat because one of her sisters has a Habitat home. When her sister Dorothy was building her own Habitat home and working to meet the sweat equity requirements, Brittany helped by taking care of her niece. Brittany was also caring for her father at the time, which delayed her own application process. She knew what would be required of her in the program and wanted to wait until she could be fully committed to it before applying.
When Brittany applied and was accepted into Habitat, she said, “I feel like a weight has been lifted off of me.” At the same time, she knew that this was going to be a big change for her, so while she was excited, she was also anxious. Sometimes she feels guilty because she doesn’t have nearly as much time to spend with her daughter as she wants, but she knows it will be worth it, especially because of what the home will mean for her daughter. Brittany will no longer have to look for a new place to live every year. This home is going to be something that she can afford, and it will finally be a permanent place for her, and for her daughter to have her friends over to play or to have a sleepover.
Brittany is so grateful to her sponsor and to the volunteers working on her home. Thinking about all the people who care so much and who are supporting her brings her to tears. She has also found a community of future homeowners who have encouraged her when times are tough. She very much appreciates the entire Habitat community and family. She says, “Saying thank you is not enough.” It means everything to her to know that she and her daughter will always have a place to call home.