Jackie

Dedication Date: June 18, 2019

Jackie has overcome many obstacles in her life and has a story to tell. There was a time in her life when she worked full time, was a full-time student all while raising her four children on her own. Over the years she and her children experienced homelessness more than once. Jackie has always wanted her own home and attempted to do so through several programs. Her finances were a barrier for her each time, but she never gave up hope that one day her dream would become a reality.

Sharnise

Dedication Date: December 18, 2018

Sharnise aka “Lil Bit,” as our Site Supervisor calls her, may be small but she packs much power. Her determination to be able to provide a better life for her children is what led her to Habitat Cabarrus. She currently rents a two bedroom house in Kannapolis. She is concerned about the many issues with the house. There is lead paint on the interior and exterior of the house which can significantly impact the health of her and her children. The home lacks insulation which makes it difficult to keep her heating and cooling costs down. The home has mold which also aggravates the health of her and her children. They have experienced insects coming into the house through the range hood. There are also holes in the closet walls that allow rodents to enter. There are also security issues in her rental home. This is due to having door locks on both entrance doors that are in poor condition, the windows being painted shut and a front door that does not close completely.

Sharnise currently works as a Data entry/Customer Service clerk for Decision Path and S&D Coffee and Tea. Sharnise is a single mother of three children, incuding Kameron who is ten years old, Kylee who is eight years old and her daughter Kalyni who is two years old. Sharnise is really looking forward to homeownership. She is mostly looking forward to the better life that she knows she we will have being a homeowner. She will finally be able to own something that she can leave to her children one day. Her children are very excited to have their own space because they are currently sharing a room. Sharnise says that she has never been outside of North Carolina and that her ultimate goal is to travel one day. Sharnise is beyond grateful for this opportunity and shows it every time she is on the construction site. She is one of the most reliable and hardworking future homeowners currently in the program.

Zula

Dedication Date: November 13, 2018

Zula currently lives in a small rental home that has little insulation, which makes it hard to heat in the winter and hard to cool in summer. Due to this, Zula is paying over $400 per month on average for utilities. The bathroom has mold and the home is constantly invaded by ants. The trees surrounding the house are in need of care and look dangerous to Zula. She has worked for two years to become financially qualified for the homeownership program. Her cost of rent and utilities add up to roughly 60% of her income.

Zula has spent her whole life caring for others and continues to daily. She is from Kannapolis and she works at the Logan Community Day Care Center. She has three adult children and seven grandchildren. She usually has her twelve and fourteen year old grandchildren with her due to their parents busy work schedule.

Zula cared for her parents until they passed away as she did not want to take them to a nursing home. Her mother passed away in 2004 and her father passed away in 2013. Unfortunately, she found him dead in her home one day after work. After he passed away she started working towards getting in the program with her daughter’s encouragement because she knew that her father would want her to continue her dream. Zula states that she gives God all the glory for this opportunity.