“Home is where there is peace, joy, family.”
Shaniqah Nowell is a devoted single mother whose strength, faith, and determination shape every part of her journey. She works two jobs: one as an infant and toddler specialist at a preschool, where she has spent the last three years nurturing little ones, and another as a deli clerk at Publix, where she has worked for a little under a year. Balancing both roles has not been easy, but Shaniqah approaches every day with perseverance and purpose, driven by her desire to build a better life for her son, Markese.
Family is at the center of everything Shaniqah does. Markese, now 15, is a thoughtful teenager who loves basketball and video games and dreams of one day playing in the NBA. He also talks often about wanting to “feed the homeless,” a reflection of his compassionate nature and the values Shaniqah has instilled in him. “He truly makes parenting easy,” Shaniqah says, proud of the caring, respectful young man he is becoming.
Shaniqah’s path to stability has been a difficult one. After relocating to Florida four years ago to be closer to family, she and her son first stayed with a relative, but the home was overcrowded. Determined to find their own space, they moved into a motel room, which quickly became both financially draining and unsafe. Working two jobs, Shaniqah struggled to save enough to move out, especially with the motel’s high weekly costs and concerning conditions. Eventually, they were able to secure an apartment in 2022—clean, quiet, and a huge improvement—but the rising rent has made it challenging to keep up.
When Shaniqah learned she was accepted into the Habitat for Humanity program, she felt an overwhelming sense of excitement and relief. “Our days are getting brighter and brighter,” she says with faith and gratitude. She looks forward to new memories with her son: cooking together, decorating their space, and finally experiencing true financial stability. Shaniqah believes this opportunity will open doors for her family that once felt out of reach, and she’s ready to walk into the next chapter with hope and confidence.
This home is sponsored by
