“My house will be a place I can call home. A place that will be my peace and safe haven. But most importantly my house will be MINE!”
Katrina Harrell, a Medical Management Rep for Elevance Health, is working towards receiving the keys to her brand new home with Habitat for Humanity. She is a single mother to her 17-year-old daughter, Markira, and enjoys spending time with her large family, going to the beach, and shopping. Markira plays volleyball for her high school and also for a travel team. She is interested in growing vegetables, reading, and doing her own acrylic nails.
“My current living situation is very challenging but I’m so grateful that I’m able to rent out a family member’s home for the time being,” Katrina tells us. “However, we can use more space, the home is too small to fit our needs. We have no pantry to store food, no storage space and only one bathroom.” In their new forever home, Katrina and Markira will have a lot of space to fit their needs and beyond. When accepted into the Habitat program, Katrina says that she was nervous, but excited at the same time. “All I could say is THANK YOU JESUS! My prayers have been answered because I’m one step closer to owning my own home.”
Like many people in the Habitat program, the sweat equity is one of the most memorable parts of the homeownership journey. “I am very excited about earning my sweat equity hours,” Katrina exclaims. “You learn so much about budgeting, credit and so on. They give you all the information you need to know to become a successful homeowner. I can’t wait to go on the build site. They teach you how to be your own handyman while learning various skills and maintenance work”. In their new home, the family is looking forward to cooking, gardening, and barbequing in the back yard.
Volunteering is one of the most important aspects of the Habitat mission. “I would encourage anyone to volunteer,” Katrina says. “You’re giving back to the community by helping families build on their forever homes. You obtain a lot of knowledge and information while meeting a lot of great people!” For more information on how to volunteer with Habitat, please visit our Volunteer Page on our website.
“I am building for generational wealth to pass on to my daughter and hope she will do the same when she has children.”
The Harrell Family home was dedicated on November 21st, 2023.
