Brittany and her four children remain strong and positive in the face of incredible hardships. No matter what life has thrown at them, they have persevered and overcome. All of Brittany’s hard work and optimism is about to pay off. This amazing family is about to take a huge step towards a better future… homeownership.
Josue (7) was born with a rare disorder called Cornelia de Lange syndrome. With his disorder, he battles a heart defect, kidney issues, episodes of epilepsy and severe upper respiratory issues. To keep working and supporting her family, Brittany hired a nurse to cover his care while she works full-time in retail. His siblings, Gabriel (14), Alicia (12) and Javier (6), also help with his care in any way they can.
Living in a clean, safe environment is essential to any family, but especially for Josue. But sadly, this is not something that he has in his current home. In fact, the family’s current rental house has no heat or air conditioner. It is old, falling apart and has mold. Furthermore, all of the bedrooms and bathrooms are up a flight of stairs. Josue is unable to climb these because of his wheelchair. Because of this, his bed is in the family’s dining room. The family also doesn’t feel safe in their current home, as they often hear gunshots nearby.
With so many concerns, Brittany was determined to change their living situation to improve the life of her children. A coworker told her to look into the Knoxville Habitat homeownership education program. When she was accepted into program, she knew she had just made a step that would change their lives and finally felt a weight lifted off her shoulders.
Since entering budgeting classes, Brittany has worked hard to become debt-free and prepare for homeownership. She was even able to buy a van needed to accommodate her son’s wheelchair, while also saving for a down payment on her new Habitat home.
Josue’s breathing problems will drastically improve when he is free from the exposure of mold and mildew. With his disability, he is prone to pneumonia and other breathing issues that are extremely dangerous for him.
Brittany looks forward to being “able to sleep at night without worrying about a stray bullet” and dreams about her children living and growing in a healthier, safer and more stable environment.
And with the help of Publix Charities and Knoxville Habitat donors, Brittany will now be able to find the peace and security she’s dreamed of through an affordable home.