Celebrating Homeownership that is Affordable In this booklet you will find examples of how Pensacola Habitat’s mission of building homes, communities, and hope has strengthened our community and why affordable homeownership is so important.
Our Mission Seeking to put God’s love into action, Pensacola Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope.
Yessenia Yessenia moved to Pensacola, Florida and searched for an affordable home to raise her children. As a single mother she struggled to find resources to help her do just that. She then found the Pensacola Habitat for Humanity Home Buyer Program which she applied for and was approved. The program during that time looked a little different than it does today. After she completed her sweat equity hours and other requirements for the program, Yessenia moved into her home with her children in June of 2001. Although her and her family lived in her current home, she didn’t close on her home until March 1, 2002. Due to Yessenia having an affordable mortgage payment, she was able to celebrate paying off her mortgage on February 22, 2019. She is still happily living in her home and has had the opportunity to not only raise her children in a safe environment, but also make lasting memories with her grandchildren.
In Yessenia’s Words My name is Yessenia. I moved to Pensacola, Florida without having much. Thankfully, I found the resources in Pensacola Habitat for Humanity that helped me as a single mother. I purchased my home in June of 2001. Being able to own this home has blessed my family tremendously. As a single parent, it’s hard to have the resources to do it all by yourself. This home thought Pensacola Habitat made my day-to-day life so much easier and gave me piece of mind. This home has provided shelter, a safe environment. The payment for my home is affordable for me and it has helped me to better my life in so many other ways. I recently paid off my home, it is such a blessing to not just me, but also to my grandchildren. We have a safe, beautiful, well-built home that will be around for many years to come and will provide shelter for many generations of my family.
Cazell Cazell’ journey with Pensacola Habitat began many years before she decided to become a homeowner herself. Growing up, Cazell, her mother, and her siblings moved around several places in hopes to find a safe place to live. Her mom then found the Pensacola Habitat for Humanity Home Buyer Program and closed on her home in August of 2005. That change made such an impact on Cazell’s life that when she decided to buy a home of her own, she investigated the Pensacola Habitat Home Buyer Program as well. Cazell was approved for the program January of 2019. Cazell was a very active Home Buyer while she was in the program and was the Home Buyer for Pensacola Habitat Women Build 2019. Cazell participated in several fundraising events during Women Build as well as spoke to our Women Builders several times to encourage them to continue fundraising and get them excited about building on her soon to be home. When it came time to start building on Cazell’s home in October 2019, she had completed all her sweat equity hours. She still wanted to build on her own home with the 140 women that helped raise almost $100K for Pensacola Habitat so she chose to donate the hours that she worked that week to other Home Buyers in the program. Cazell closed on her home in August of 2020, almost 15 years to the day from when her mom closed on her home.
In Cazell’s Words I grew up in a single parent household as the eldest child with three siblings. Life was very difficult for us and full of challenges. Since I was the oldest, I understood more of what my mother went through in providing for us. She was a very hard worker and did her best to take care of us. We had to move frequently, and I changed schools often – I had attended seven different elementary schools by the time I was in fifth grade. However, my family life changed dramatically for the better the year I entered sixth grade. My mother applied for a home through Pensacola Habitat for Humanity. I will never forget the days going with my mother to help with the sweat equity hours. I was able to sweep the warehouse, helped with landscaping, and even did some painting. This made me appreciate my mother’s efforts in a way I had never seen before. She is such a strong woman and without her making the decision to apply at Pensacola Habitat I have no idea where we would be right now. Pensacola Habitat has had a lasting impact on my life growing up, so when I made the decision to have a home to call my own, I didn’t hesitate to apply. I am overjoyed and tremendously blessed to a part of such an amazing organization. God has truly blessed me, and my family and I thank Him every day.
Alexandrea Alexandrea was a single mother who was in search of a more affordable place for her and her daughter, Emmalynn to live. Alexandrea had been renting her home and her rent was very high. She tried to apply for a traditional mortgage to purchase a home, but the mortgage payments were more then she could afford. She then learned about the Pensacola Habitat for Humanity Home Buyer Program and decided to apply. She was approved in April of 2017. While in the program, Alexandrea worked really hard to complete her sweat equity hours, attend the required classes for the Home Buyer Program, and make the required down payment for her soon to be home. Alexandrea closed on her home in July of 2018. Since closing on her home, Alexandrea has been able to start new traditions with her friends and family. Her and her daughter are now in a safe, affordable home where they continue to grow together as a family. Alexandrea talks about how she gained more than an affordable place to live, but also the lessons of patience, dedication, and appreciation.
In Alexandrea’s Words My name is Alexandrea and I have a beautiful daughter named Emmalynn. Pensacola Habitat for Humanity built a house we can call home. Being a single mom and renting a home was very expensive. I tried once to buy a home and got discouraged by the down payment and cost of the mortgage. A former employee informed me about Pensacola Habitat for Humanity and the benefits of homeownership. When I found out more information, I was excited to apply, and knowing I wouldn’t be paying more than $650 a month was very surprising. I applied in May 2017 and moved in July 2018. Dedication to sweat equity hours, down payment, and informative classes got us to the grand prize! Fourteen months and our perfect home was ready for us to start a new journey! We are blessed to be in a home where we can feel safe, grow in, and build memories! We had our first Christmas dinner in 2018 with our family members, and we also started a cookie decorating tradition with our friends in our home! This program taught me patience, dedication, and appreciation. Pensacola Habitat for Humanity made this happen for us and we are extremely grateful for our home!
Mia Mia’s life took an unexpected turn when her husband, Frank, passed away leaving Mia to take care of their three children. While trying to cope with the unexpected loss and adjusting from being a two-income family to now a one income family Mia wasn’t sure where she could turn for help. One day, while scrolling through Facebook, an ad from Pensacola Habitat caught Mia’s eye. Because of that ad, Mia reached out to Pensacola Habitat and ultimately applied for the Home Buyer Program. She was accepted into the program in January of 2018. Through the Home Buyer Program at Pensacola Habitat, Mia was able to find more than just an affordable home to call her own, but also a support system that helped her rebuild part of her life. Not only did she find strength in her friends and family, but also in the new people she met, other future homeowners going through the program, and staff that encouraged her. Mia closed on her home in December 2018. In her letter below, she talks about how the Home Buyer Program helped her find hope and strength during a very tough time in her life. She describes that Pensacola Habitat means, “Hope, Love, and a place called home” to her.
In Mia’s Words There I was sitting on the couch browsing Facebook aimlessly on my phone. I was still devastated and very depressed after losing my husband Frank unexpectedly from a heart attack. Social media was a welcome distraction. I dwelled on thinking how I was going to move forward with my life without my husband. I needed to take care of our three children and the financial challenges of only one income now. While I was browsing online, and ad caught my attention, I recalled it asking questions like, “Are you tired of paying rent?” “Are you paying too much for rent?” In my head I was checking each question YES! Curious, I clicked on the ad and it redirected me to Pensacola Habitat for Humanity’s website. I emailed inquiring about the program and they responded. I remember the HOPE of even thinking I had a chance to become a homeowner! Once I was accepted into the program, I attended a workshop the went over the requirements for the program that seemed very strict. I remember having doubts and fears wondering how I could do this on my own especially with a full-time job, caring for my kids, and the time required to complete the program, but I was determined to make my family proud. God gave me the opportunity and through many prayers I thank God for helping me get through every obstacle. Each phase of the program I was blessed with bringing family and friends together, meeting new people, working with an awesome crew, volunteers, and other future homeowners, learning new skills, and being a part of a community that helped me re-build part of my life through Pensacola Habitat. I know deep down Frank would be so proud of me and how I have developed the unimaginable strength and hope through my grief. Pensacola Habitat for Humanity means “Hope, Love, & a place called home to me.”
Trey and Bethany Trey and Bethany’s Pensacola Habitat story is a little different than most stories. A few years before Trey and Bethany applied for the program, Trey was in a diving accident that broke his neck which resulted in Trey being bound to a wheelchair for the remainder of his life. Anyone that has been around Trey for more than five minutes can tell you that he never let that slow him down. Trey was attending the University of West Florida when he learned about the Pensacola Habitat Home Buyer Program from a faculty member at the university. Several months later, Trey and Bethany decided to apply for the Home Buyer Program at Pensacola Habitat and were approved in June of 2018. During their Pensacola Habitat journey, Trey and Bethany worked closely with Pensacola Habitat staff to modify current plans so that their new home would help make simple everyday tasks easier for Trey Bethany and two children. Modifications included widening door frames, roll under counter tops, and a stove that had switches on the front instead of above the eye so that Trey wouldn’t have to reach over a hot stove. Trey and Bethany closed on their home in July of 2019. Since closing on their home, Trey has graduated from the University of West Florida with a master’s degree in clinical social work. He focused on mental health and overcoming trauma in school and hopes to use his experience to help others.
In Trey’s Words Our Pensacola Habitat journey had a very unique, unexpected beginning. In the fall of 2017, I performed a song I wrote for a Positive Psychology class project on where I saw myself five years from now. The song is titled “Where I Wanna Be” and it was a reflection on where I was five years ago, where I am now, and where I see my life and family in five years. During the portion about what I see happening five years from now, I mentioned having our own house. In the days following the presentation, a member of the University of West Florida faculty who was present emailed my professor. She detailed that she volunteers as a family coach for Pensacola Habitat for Humanity and that I might benefit from the Home Buyer Program. It wasn’t until the spring of 2018 that I reached out to Pensacola Habitat to apply for the program. We were approved in August 2018, and once the ground was broken in the following days at our home site, we began driving by every day to check the progress! We are forever grateful for the opportunity to own our new house. We are equally thankful and honored to have been able to work on other construction sites that help get Pensacola Habitat homeowners into their homes as well. We moved into our house the first week of August. It immediately felt like home! We tell anyone and everyone who we believe will benefit from the program about Pensacola Habitat. We are proud Pensacola Habitat for Humanity homeowners and consider it an honor to be a part of the Pensacola Habitat family.
For more information about Pensacola Habitat for Humanity and how you can help us build homes, communities, and hope visit pensacolahabitat.org or call 850-434-5456.