Homeownership, Against the Odds
For Janey, owning a home has always been a dream. One she kept tucked in the back of her mind, never quite believing it was possible.
Janey cares full-time for her two sons. Her youngest, Alex, is 14 and heading into eighth grade. Her oldest, 18, lives with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2, a spontaneous genetic condition that has caused tumors in his brain and affected his heart. Between his medical care, rising rent, and other challenges, Janey says homeownership felt like something that happened to other people.
“It’s just been a struggle,” Janey said. “For us to try to find a better home and things like that, it just kept getting too far out of our reach.”
Then she saw a story on the news about Green Country Habitat for Humanity working with families who don’t fit the guidelines for a typical home loan and decided to apply.
Janey admits that the Homebuyer Program looked intimidating at first. But she found the homeownership classes manageable, and along the way she learned things she says she never would have gained any other way.
Welcome Home, Janey!
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Now, with the family relocating to Tulsa, Janey and her sons are looking forward to a long list of firsts. A bigger house, bigger rooms, a dishwasher, a washer and dryer, and high on the list for Janey, a bathroom of her own. For Alex, he’s looking forward to being able to attend his favorite church in Tulsa more often.
Janey says reaching the finish line is still hard to believe.
“It means a lot. It means a lot to us,” she said. “I just want to thank you guys for everything that you’ve done for us.”
Her message to anyone who thinks homeownership isn’t possible for them is simple.
“If I can do this, anyone can do it.” Looking back on the process she added, “Having this wonderful outcome in the end, it’s just so amazing.”
She encourages families to set their sights high and go after the dream, even when the road ahead looks difficult.
Welcome home, Janey! And thank you to TTCU for helping to make homeownership affordable for families like Janey’s.