This year, our affiliate was able to build nine new homes for families needing decent, affordable housing, and enable those families to become first-time homeowners. It takes a village to do this work, and we are incredibly grateful to the sponsors, construction crew, volunteers, board members, and staff for making this possible. Take some time to read the inspiring stories below of an assortment of our 2024 partner families and see their pictures. It is because of you that they are now able to own rather than rent and build generational wealth to pass down to their children.
Lisa is the Food Service Manager at Marietta City Schools where she feels feeding the students and staff is a heartwarming experience. She loves cooking, participating in church events, having family dates with her adult children, Brianna and Xavier, and tailgating for her favorite team, the Atlanta Falcons.
Lisa rented a town home in Atlanta for seven years but was displaced in 2023 when the rent increased by $575. Luckily, her cousin in Lithia Springs took her in and gave her the opportunity to get back on her feet. She had attended seminars and inquired about buying a home, but it seemed as if nothing would pan out for her.
When the Marietta Public Service Housing Program was announced, she was nervous, but a friend pushed her to apply. Now Lisa is enjoying the sense of dignity and pride that homeownership brings – and the ability to cook in her very own kitchen. Her home was sponsored and built by the Cobb High School Coalition, with students from Pope, Campbell, and Hillgrove High Schools.
U.S. military veteran, Dalious, enjoys a career where he can protect and serve others. That’s why he chose to work as a security guard after his honorable discharge from the Navy. He was referred to Habitat for Humanity by his brother, who built a house with us in 2016. Dalious is excited to have a safe and stable home with enough space for his family. Strengthening the familial bond with his wife and two young children is not the only benefit – our affordable homeownership program offers long-term financial stability and a permanent place to call home. For Dalious and his family, the pride of homeownership is a dream come true. His two-story home in Austell was sponsored and built by Assurant.
Kelli is an Administrative Assistant at the City of Marietta’s sanitation department. She loves solving problems and providing information for the 16,000 customers she serves. Kelli grew up in a single-family home in Illinois and wanted to provide the same safe environment for her 11-year-old son, Jonas. Although she had tried to buy a home previously, she couldn’t find anything in her price range. So, she decided to act on her prayers and apply to Habitat for Humanity.
When selected, Kelli said she felt like she was “floating on the fluffiest cloud in the bluest sky”. Kelli and her son are go-getters and loved building their home alongside the volunteers. They are thankful to Habitat’s sponsors and volunteers for giving them the priceless gift that comes with a home – peace of mind.
Kelli’s house is the fifth home built with the Marietta Public Service Housing Program which started in 2023. This is also the second house built for a public servant in the Marietta sanitation department! Kelli’s new home was sponsored and built by Berkadia and the Lutheran Coalition for Habitat.
Kendra is a woman of many roles – mother, daughter, sister, auntie, friend, and advocate. Of her most cherished role, she is known as “Mom” to two amazing teen boys, Keymn, 18, and Kye, 14. Keymn, an actor since age 9, attends Chapman University in California where he is majoring in Theater Acting with a minor in Film Music. Kye is a 9th grader with a multifaceted personality who enjoys pursuing a variety of creative pursuits, including sports, the arts, and entrepreneurial activities. The brothers looked forward to having a nice kitchen as the heart of the home and favorite place to gather.
Having served over a decade in nonprofit, Kendra has dedicated herself to serving families. Despite having her own goal of homeownership, Kendra never lost sight of the greater needs of others. Instead, she involved herself with Habitat for Humanity as a volunteer and referral source for Habitat homeowners and other wishful families. Now, she feels deeply honored to have been awarded this opportunity herself and grateful for God’s favor as she has prayed for this for a long time. Kendra and her family are excited about making memories in their new home and looking forward to all the laughter and joy that come with it. Kendra’s two-story home in Mableton was sponsored and built by Publix Super Markets Charities.
Sandra has been an Administrative Assistant in Development Services at the City of Marietta since 2014, helping to make the public’s experience with the city go smoothly. She lived in an apartment complex in Kennesaw but sought a greater sense of community through homeownership. An affordable mortgage did not seem attainable, but being selected to build with Habitat for Humanity changed that. Now, she’ll benefit from the financial stability of monthly mortgage payments that aren’t subject to major increases – which will enable her to retire comfortably when she’s ready.
Sandra most looked forward to cooking in a sunny kitchen, hosting holiday gatherings, and has always said that when she became a homeowner, she would get a dog! She is thankful to the Cobb Interfaith Habitat Coalition for using their time, talents, and gifts to make homeownership possible for her, and building this home.
Emmanuel lived in a one-bedroom apartment in Mableton with his four-year-old daughter, Delia. He’s been working for Lyft for the past six years to provide for Delia and wants to own a home with more space in a safe neighborhood where she can play outside. Emmanuel was referred to Habitat by Delia’s mother and was excited to learn that he had been approved for a home. From September to November, the Catholics4Habitat Coalition built and sponsored this home with him, along with the Habitat Women Build Committee, and new sponsor, Window World. Now, Emmanuel will be a first-time homeowner, and have a safe, spacious home for his family.
Quintasha is the Executive Assistant to the Chief of Police for the City of Austell, Chief Orrin Scott Hamilton. She was born in Hartwell, Georgia and raised in Atlanta. Quintasha got custody of her 17-year-old niece, Angel, when she was an infant, after she was placed in the care of the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services. She also raised her nephew, who was five at the time and is now an adult. She and Angel had been living in a home in Austell that was too small, with a floor furnace which they had to step over while walking through the house.
Quintasha was most excited to become a homeowner because she would have a legacy to leave her adopted daughter and be the first in her family to own a home. She always strives to be an active member of her community, starting a neighborhood “Back to School Bash” when she lived in College Park, now serving as a board member with Keep Cobb Beautiful, and planning to implement “Adopt a Street” where she lives in Austell. Quintasha was even awarded Austell Citizen of the Year for 2024 by the South Cobb Area Council and Cobb Chamber!
The Atlanta Braves Foundation sponsored and built this home alongside Quintasha and Angel, and on October 16, Quintasha closed on her finished home and got the keys.
Mihretab and Winta are a married couple with an 8-year-old daughter, a 6-year-old son, and a 6-month-old daughter. Mihretab works as a cashier at a gas station in Marietta, and Winta works part-time as a food runner in a pizza restaurant in Atlanta. The family currently lives in a two-bedroom apartment in Smyrna and pays 58% of their income on housing costs. They are looking forward to having a home where their kids can play freely without disturbing their downstairs neighbors and has enough space for their family.
Mihretab and Winta’s home is sponsored and built by Stuart and Mindy Kenney and family, in memory of Nancy Hodge Kenney and Bronston Shelby Kenney, III. Nearly every week, members of the Kenney family, their church family, and friends, built this home alongside Mihretab and Winta to give a hand up. Now, the home is finished and will be dedicated December 7, 2024, so that their family can close and move in before the holidays.