Evette says about herself, “I have worked for eight years at Good Samaritan Hospital as an Environmental Technician.  My son Carlos will be in the 10th grade this year at Roger Bacon High School. He likes Social Studies and enjoys carpentry work with his uncle. My oldest son Folando Allen, Sr. died, but my grandson Folando, Jr. will live on in his name. He is such a joy and he is a wonderful image of my son. I lost one of my sons to a tragedy and buying a home means a lot to me and my family. It means we can have a sense of pride and dignity. It will enable me to hold my head up high and walk with pride. I would have never thought in a million years that I would be buying my own home. Having a home is the American dream and with this home I feel I can provide a stable and loving environment for son and grandson. This is return will show my children that with hard work and dedication that anything is possible. We are looking very forward to rehabbing this house with the Habitat volunteers, buying the house and then making it our home.”

Evette Allen Family

  

Future homeowner of
3558 Harvey Ave. in Avondale

Jonathan & Ashley Cephas Family

Future homeowner of 3554 Hallwood Pl.
 in Avondale

Jonathan works for Humana and Ashley works at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

The Cephas’ say that buying their own home means a lot to them.  They were both raised in a home and they want their family to have that same stability -- one that will provide a strong foundation that they can build on. It is also a huge milestone for this young family who truly count it as a blessing and hope to be an example for other young families.

Ms. Dixie said, “We are currently renting and we would never have been able to have this opportunity to build and buy our own home without Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity.”

Mary and her three children have been living in a two-bedroom apartment for years and although she said their living situation is
very overcrowded, it simply wasn’t affordable for them to rent a
four-bedroom apartment to provide them with adequate space. Mary believes that we should all be blessings to one another.  She says,
"All of us can’t give in the same way as others, but we all can contribute something. Just the experience of building our home side
by side with the volunteers will be quite an opportunity for my
children and me.  We are very much looking forward to building and buying our own home. Thank you very much to Cincinnati Habitat, the volunteers and the donors that have made this dream possible for my children and me.”

Mary Dixie Family

Future homeowner of 5010 Stewart Ave.
 in Madisonville

DeAndra Eberhart Family
 

Future homeowner of 3255 Wolseley Ln.
 in Avondale

DeAndra and her girls live in a two-story home where she must carry Davionne, her wheelchair and equipment upstairs multiple times per day. This will become increasingly difficult as Davionne grows. DeAndra said, “Buying my own home means so much to me because now I will be paying a mortgage on my own home, instead of flushing my money away paying rent. More importantly, I will finally have a home for Davionne. It has been very difficult to find a place that we can get her in and out easily. Now, I will have a home that will meet my daughter’s needs and she can grow in a home that is made just right for her with accessible bathrooms, the open floor plan, plenty of room for her medical equipment and no stairs! I have always risen to the challenges in my life and I am very thankful for this opportunity to provide a home for my two daughters that they can call their own. I am looking very forward to meeting and working with the volunteers that are making my dream possible.”

Casandra said her family is very grateful for this opportunity.  She describes her family as very close, adding that her three sons have supported her through this entire process of applying for a home. Casandra said, “Buying my own home means I can provide a better environment and more space for my children. I feel my family needed this home to give more stability and prove that the sky is the limit! I hope this will teach my children to be responsible, hardworking and to never give up.” In addition, the family can now finally get a puppy!

Casandra Engleman Family

Future homeowner of 3358 Hallwood Pl.
 in Avondale

Dale Freeman Family

Future homeowner of 555 Hale Ave.
 in Avondale

Dale said he and his family all believe in putting God as the head of their lives because God will allow you to be at peace with yourself. Dale’s oldest son, Jamal, graduated from Job Corps and worked on a Habitat build in Avondale as part of his his training. Dale’s other son is currently enrolled in Job Corps studying to be a mechanic. Dale said about buying his own home, “It will bring a peace of mind, a peace of the rock and a piece of the American Dream. I can have my home where I can grow my own garden, feed the birds and invite family and friends over for fellowship. It is also a blessing for me to have a home in Avondale where I have lived for over fifty plus years.”

Terelle is an accounting/business major through a partnership program between Cincinnati State and Wilmington College and will be graduating in June 2010.  He currently works at PNC bank. Knikita is a bus driver with First Student.

Knikita and Terelle said this about buying their own home:  “Buying this home from Habitat for Humanity means more to us than anyone would ever know. We're thankful to have the opportunity to give our children something we never had . . . a home to call ours. We see this as a blessing from God for all the obstacles we've overcome, and never let slow us down. This is the first step to our brand new life ahead. We're looking forward to working with the volunteers on building our new home.”

Knikita Howard & Terrell Scott Family

Future homeowner of 3450 Hallwood Pl.
 in Avondale

Lashay Johnson Family

Future homeowner of 1214 Lincoln Ave.
 in Walnut Hills

Ms. Johnson said that as a renter she has seen many apartments that are not safe for her and her children. She really wants her children to know the stability and security in their life that living in the same home for years while they are growing up can provide. In addition, Lashay said she could never to buy her own home by herself. “I would like to thank God and all of the people at Habitat for Humanity for this opportunity to make my family’s dream come true!” she said.

Miss Kane said about her family, “We came to the United States 9 years ago and it was a struggle at first, but it is getting better each year, especially with the prospect of building and buying my own home. My children and I are so excited and can’t wait to move into our new home. We are a great family that enjoys our life to the fullest and we appreciate every single day of our lives together. I work as an in-home daycare provider in an apartment that we have lived in since moving to the United States. Having our own home will be a big improvement for my business and it will mean the world to me and my children. My children and I are so excited and cannot wait to move into our new home.”

Korotoumou Kane Family

Future homeowner (and fiancé) of
3651 Fyffe Ave. in Westwood

John & Yeamata Kollie Family

Future homeowner of 3717 Standish Ave.
 in Kennedy Heights

John said, “Apart from all of our other blessings, the Lord is about to bless us with one of our greatest dreams (a home) through Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity. For this words cannot describe how grateful my family is and we say thank you! Owning a home is the complete fulfillment of real peace, joy, rest and protection for my family. Truly words are not enough to describe the joy of building and buying a home.”

Ms. Lumpkins said about buying her own home, “My family has waited a long time for this chance to buy our own home and this was a chance that we didn’t think would ever be possible or attainable. To be able to have my children and someday my grandchildren in our own home is fantastic. Just to be able to afford a home is a blessing and this opportunity being made possible through Habitat for Humanity is a once in a lifetime experience for us. This is and has always been the American dream for my family. It is such a blessing for us to be a part of this great opportunity and we are looking forward to actually taking part in the construction of the home and not just buying a home. This home will mean so much for me and my children because we will be actually build this home.”

Danetta Lumpkins Family

Future homeowner of 2016 Ryan Ave.
 in Walnut Hills