Meet Josh: A Habitat employee to future Habitat homeowner
Joshua Fulwider was a senior in the Youth Construction Academy with The Villages High School during the 2020–2021 school year. If you ask him about that time, he’ll tell you he loved every bit of it.
Unfortunately, later that same year, Josh suffered a very serious spinal cord injury. He had a compression fracture in his vertebrae—so severe that if it had been any lower or higher, he would’ve been left paralyzed. This injury impacted many areas of Josh’s life, and he started to lose hope that he would be able to pursue his passion for construction in the future.
Josh, however, was determined to get back on his feet and back out on site. Just 11 months later, he was ready to pick up his tools and get to work.
While exploring his options for post-graduation employment, Josh reached back out to the place that fostered his love of construction – Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter. He applied right after high school but was not initially selected for the job.
Then, in March of 2023, Danielle Stroud, CEO of Habitat Lake-Sumter, gave him a phone call—and by May, Josh officially started as a Crew Leader.
Now, Josh is not only a former YCA student and a Crew Leader—soon, he’ll be a Habitat homeowner. His closing is set for May 2025 on a home that Habitat has been rehabilitating since early October 2024. He’s even helped work on the house himself—painting, cleaning up trim, installing backsplash, and more.
Josh is most excited to have a new home to start a family, and a place to come back to after a long day’s work. He, his girlfriend, their ball python, and their 20-gallon fish tank will all be moving in together!
Josh says he feels excited and blessed—that his story shows just how strong the power of God is. Before joining Habitat Lake-Sumter, he was constantly stressed. Now, he says he doesn’t see his job as a job. He sees it as a blessing. And getting a home in today’s market, at just 21 years old? He explains that he’s grateful, and considered himself lucky to have this opportunity.
Just like every other family that walks alongside Habitat Lake-Sumter on their road to homeownership, Josh had to meet all the qualifications for the Home Ownership program, including extensive financial education, and fulfilling 200 hours of sweat equity.
Josh went from never imagining himself in construction again to coming full circle—as a Habitat professional and soon-to-be Habitat homeowner.
“Habitat has humbled me,” he says. He loves attending dedications and seeing firsthand how life-changing owning a Habitat home can be.
Josh wants people to know not to give up. “As big as your problems may feel, there’s always a solution. And in the end—it’s all worth it. You’ll come out stronger than before.”