Meet Shenika and Destiny!
Introducing long time Leesburg residents and among our newest Habitat partner family, Shenika and her daughter, Destiny.
Shenika works at Leesburg UF Hospital as a dietary aid where she has been employed for the last 16 years and Destiny is a 10th grade student at Leesburg High School. They currently reside in a rental unit in Leesburg but have always wanted a home to call their own. “I’ve always wanted my own home for me and my children,” says Shenika, “I have lived in Leesburg my whole life.”
Shenika’s dream of homeownership is possible through Habitat Lake-Sumter’s homeownership program. Their home will be three bedrooms and two baths conveniently located close to both work and school. Shenika investigated the Habitat program via their website. Then through a series of interviews and by working with the Family Services Manager, Veronica Troxell, found she qualified for home ownership. Needless to say, she was very excited. Shenika said, “At first I was nervous to apply because I didn’t think I would get approved then I took the chance and got approved, this was such a great moment for me and my daughter.”
An interesting aspect of this home is that it is being built by Destiny’s fellow students from Leesburg High School who are enrolled a skilled trades program. Working alongside Habitat construction staff and volunteers, students have spent a daily class period building Shenika and Destiny’s future home since September 2021.They work alongside professional trades people and industry professionals who assist in their learning experience and provide them with the necessary skills to get a job after graduation. Destiny knows several of the student builders and they keep her abreast of the progress being made and is told over and over how great this house is going to be.
Both Shenika and Destiny are participating in the required 200 hours of sweat equity. On December 4th, they worked alongside other volunteers and local businesses to construct several playhouses which were donated as Christmas presents to kids in the community. This event is known as Jingle Build Off and is an annual event that takes place the first Saturday in December. Additionally, Shenika has worked at the Habitat Restore and both Shenika and Destiny will be assisting with painting and laying sod at their new home. The sweat equity program allows every Habitat homeowner to give back to the community, gain hands-on skills, and invest personally in the home they will be calling their own. A bit later, Shenika will be taking homeownership classes to help better prepare her for the home-owning experience and the accompanying responsibility of owning a home.
They anticipate moving into their new home in May 2022. Shenika explains what she’s most excited about is “the idea of having your own washer and dryer.”
Destiny agrees, “I feel excited to have a bigger room and to finally say my mother has a house. No More Laundry Mat!”
Shenika has two older sons, Daykon (25) and Traveion (23), and they too are looking forward to spending time with their Mom and sister in their new home.
Both Shenika and Destiny have been very impressed with the help and support they have received from Habitat staff members and volunteers. “We are thankful and blessed for this wonderful experience.”
Written by: Kevin Vogt