After becoming a single mother, Ketty had no home, no credit, and was struggling to get approved for an apartment. She was staying at a family member’s home and sharing a bed with her son while she reached out to apartment complex after apartment complex.
“I didn’t know anything,” said Ketty. “When you become a single mother, no one tells you, ‘Go here if you don’t have credit’ or ‘go there for assistance.’ You just have to figure it out on your own.”
In the meantime, her then 7-year-old son, Diego, was struggling with moving out of his childhood home and not having his own room for the first time in his life. His grades were slipping and Ketty noticed a decline in his social life.
But after applying to dozens of apartments, she found a generous property manager who was willing to listen to her story and overlook her lack of credit. She was finally able to secure an apartment for her and Diego.
While Ketty was grateful that they had a roof over their head, she still yearned to provide the same sense of home for Diego
that he felt at his childhood house. So, when they moved in, she made sure to assure him that their new apartment was just temporary.
Motivated by her son, Ketty attended a course for first-time homeowners at StepUp Suncoast and after telling her story, they recommended that she apply for Habitat’s homeownership program.
In 2019, Ketty began her journey to becoming a homeowner by reaching out to Manatee Habitat. Soon enough, she got accepted into the program, began her sweat equity hours and found a community to support her.
“Meeting other prospective homeowners and hearing what they’ve been through has made me feel as if I’m not alone,” said Ketty.
Today, she works at the bank and is steadily building her credit. Diego has a scholarship to a local private school and participates in soccer and art when not focused on academics.
In every step of her journey at Manatee Habitat, Ketty is reinvigorated in her dream of owning a home. She has faith that the day will come when she and Diego will finally enjoy the security and stability of homeownership.
“I thank God every day that I never lost hope because that’s what led me to Habitat,” said Ketty.