Hairston Family

Latricia is a devoted single mother of four sons—Jaevier (18), Jaelon (15), Sontre (12), and Brian (6). For the past five years, she has worked as a CNA at Woodland Manor in Elkhart, demonstrating both commitment and resilience while supporting her family.

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After facing unsafe and deteriorating living conditions in a rental home—where leaking toilets and mold made the space unlivable—Latricia made the difficult decision to move in with her mother in Kalamazoo. Currently, she and her two youngest sons share a single room, while she continues to commute daily to Elkhart for work.

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Latricia first heard about Habitat’s homeownership program through friends. Although she was not accepted on her first application, she remained determined. With guidance on how to strengthen her application, she tried again—and was thrilled to be accepted. She and her sons were overjoyed at the opportunity to build a better future.

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For Latricia, stable housing means everything. She is determined to create a safe, secure environment for her children—one that brings not only stability for them, but also peace of mind for herself. She is proud to be working toward homeownership, knowing it will allow her to build equity and invest in her family’s future. As her mother often reminds her, this step represents the beginning of generational wealth.

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Latricia looks forward to simple moments like watching her boys play outside, meeting neighbors, and enjoying the comfort of an affordable mortgage that will ease financial stress. With this new chapter, she also hopes to pursue her dream of returning to nursing school.

 

Through the program’s financial literacy classes, Latricia gained valuable skills in budgeting, saving, and managing expenses. She learned the importance of building a nest egg and feels empowered by what she has learned. She also enjoyed the hands-on construction experience and found the construction team to be great teachers and very patient.

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Latricia looks forward to a life where she is no longer just surviving but truly thriving. She dreams of sitting on her front porch with a cup of coffee and surrounded by her children.