“Our home will provide stability and foundation to put roots down that will be around for generations.”
For Chantay McCullum, a dedicated single mother of four, stability and security have been elusive. Chantay has been through more than her share of difficult times with her children—Chantionna (18), Andino Jr. (17), Andina (15), and Miracle (12). As a school bus driver for the Pinellas County School Board, Chantay works hard to provide for her family. Yet, the challenges of overcrowded living conditions and unsafe environments have made it tough for her to give her children the safe, spacious home they deserve. “We were crammed in a small house, and my three daughters had to share one room. It got so cramped that one of them had to move into my room,” she recalls.
Chantay’s journey has been one of perseverance and resilience. Her family’s living conditions had taken a toll, especially when they were forced to move into a shelter. “My children and I stayed in a shelter with 15 other families, sharing two bathrooms. It was one of the toughest times of our lives,” Chantay shares. But even in these trying moments, she found strength and resolve to keep moving forward. When she learned she had been accepted into the Habitat for Humanity program, Chantay felt an immense sense of relief. “My first thought was to thank the Lord above,” she says. “Now, my family and I can have a fresh start and a peace of mind.”
The Habitat program has opened up new opportunities for Chantay. “I’m excited to learn everything I can about homeownership and how to keep my house in good condition,” she explains. The hands-on experience of working on her home has provided her with valuable skills and, more importantly, the pride of knowing she’s contributing to the future of her family.
For Chantay, the most exciting part of owning a Habitat home is knowing that her children will have a space to call their own. “I can’t wait to see my kids’ faces when we get the keys to our new home,” she says. She envisions a life where her family can breathe easier, free from the cramped spaces and unsafe surroundings of their past and is looking forward to the stability and foundation she’s always dreamed of providing for her children.
