Meet Elizabeth and her sons, Bryson, age 7, and Kiari, age 1. Originally from Florida, Elizabeth moved to Kentucky as a child with her family but returned to Florida in 2015 with her eldest son, seeking a better life. Initially, they lived in a trailer while Elizabeth worked various odd jobs to support them.
In 2019, they moved into a two-bedroom apartment in low-income housing in Bradenton. That same year, Elizabeth faced a setback when she lost her job at Amazon due to transportation issues. In 2020, she took a temporary position as a COVID-19 screener, and after years of temporary jobs, she secured a stable position as a leasing consultant, a role she has held for the past two years.
Living in a high-crime, drug-infested apartment complex, Elizabeth has been eager to find a safer environment for her children. When she saw a Facebook post announcing that Manatee Habitat was accepting applications, she applied, hoping for a chance to provide a better life for her sons. Elizabeth was thrilled to be interviewed and accepted into the program. She is excited about the prospect of her boys growing up in a safe neighborhood, having a backyard, and their own rooms.