Housatonic Habitat for Humanity Welcomes New Homeowner

HOMEOWNER PROFILE: NICOLE REID

As a child growing up in Jamaica, Nicole Reid dreamt of living the American Dream, of someday owning her own home and getting a college education. In 1998 she moved to the U.S. with her mother and started to pursue that dream. Nicole's journey wasn't an easy one. But now, sixteen years later Nicole and her daughter Ajiana, 10, are the proud owners of a new Housatonic Habitat for Humanity townhome in Danbury.

Longing to own her own home and provide stability for her daughter Nicole, like many single mothers, was struggling with paying a high rent while providing a safe environment for them to live. She knew that that buying a home the traditional way was not an option for her. When a friend told her that Housatonic Habitat for Humanity was accepting applications for their 21 Hospital Avenue project, she attended a prospective homeowners meeting, applied and was accepted.

Asked how this has changed her life, she responded "I've always done my best with what I have and try to be a role model for my daughter. Becoming a homeowner and knowing that Ajiana and I will be a part of a community and the Habitat family is a wonderful feeling. Through the process I have developed relationships with the other Hospital Avenue homeowners and was able to pay it forward by working on Habitat's Linden Place project helping to build homes for other families. It truly is a dream come true." In May Nicole reached another milestone, she graduated from Post University with a B.S. in Accounting and works for Western CT Health Network as a Supervisor in the Financial Clearance Department.

Five families, including Nicole and Ajiana, will be moving into their new Habit for Humanity homes on Hospital Avenue in August. "Housatonic Habitat for Humanity build homes for working families, providing them with a no interest mortgage and financial planning and counseling. It's a hand up, not a hand out" said Executive Director, Fran Normann. "Nicole is an inspiration and a wonderful example of who a Habitat for Humanity homeowner is."

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Submitted by Bethel, CT

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