“I am building because it creates a sense of identity—a place my children and I can truly call our own.”
Kenya Pickering is a hardworking single mother and is on her journey to homeownership through the Habitat for Humanity program.. As a Lead CSA at You Thrive Florida, Kenya balances her career while raising her two children, Nico (9) and Nicole (7). “We are a goofy family,” Kenya shares. “We love playing jokes on each other, cooking together, and spending time outdoors. Whether it’s bowling, skating, or going to the movies, we always make the most of our time together.”
Despite her positive outlook, Kenya’s current living situation has been far from ideal. She and her children live in an apartment complex where basic amenities, like a laundromat, have been unavailable for over a year. “It’s been really difficult,” she explains. “With my work schedule and the kids’ school and activities, finding time to go to a laundromat outside our complex is nearly impossible.” In addition to the inconvenience, maintenance issues in her apartment are often ignored. “When things break, it takes them a long time to come—if they ever do,” she says. These struggles have fueled her determination to create a stable and comfortable home for her family.
When Kenya received the news that she had been accepted into the Habitat for Humanity program, she was overwhelmed with joy. “Is this for real?” she remembers thinking. “I was so overly excited, with tears of joy!”
Kenya envisions her Habitat home as a place of love, security, and belonging. “My house will be a space where we can have family gatherings for the holidays and enjoy time with loved ones,” she says. She is most looking forward to having a front and back porch, a second bathroom, and a garage—features that will make life significantly easier for her family. More than anything, she is excited to finally have a place where her children can play freely in their own yard.”
The Pickering Family Home is sponsored by:
