In the process of becoming a homeowner, what were some hurdles you faced?
Personally I went through some difficult hardships during this process, including a divorce. As you can imagine, ending a marriage is both financially and emotionally taxing, but Habitat supported me and stuck with me. as I worked my way closer to homeownership.
Another hurdle arose as I dealt with my student loan consolidation process; it was long and complicated and I didn't expect the forbearance to be an issue, but I had to be patient. As I remained transparent with Habitat, they understood and navigated me through the steps. I faced setbacks but my financial counselor advocated for me and was very understanding and encouraging. That compassion was something I didn't expect from Habitat, and it was priceless.

For the Sherina and Allen, owning a new home brings with it a sense of pride and accomplishment. They were required to attend hours of training and complete several courses on financial literacy and homeownership best practices, in addition to contributing more than 30 hours of sweat equity. Volunteerism remains a core tenet of the Habitat for Humanity program, offering families and sponsors the opportunity to get “hands-on.”

A native of Macon Georgia, Nnaka moved to the Tulsa area to play semi-professional football. While competing in the league, he sustained a career-ending neck and spinal cord injury that left­ him paralyzed from his chest down. In the face of the most extreme circumstances, he chose not to give in and not to give up.

Aft­er his injury removed him from the gridiron, Nnaka focused on education. He graduated with his bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Services from Langston University and is currently studying to receive his master’s in Human Relations from Oklahoma University in Tulsa.

Sharryn selected her home and was excited to own a home in North Tulsa, which was part of a five-home plot. With five families moving into new Habitat homes at once, “we basically have our own community, which I love,” says Dotson. “My kids play with the neighbors’ kids, and I’ve made great connections with other families. We help each other out all the time.” At her previous home, space was tight. Now her kids and mother each have their own rooms, offering more space for privacy and individuality.