As a single mother of two sweet kids, Crystal goes above and beyond daily to build a better future for herself and her children. The love she has for her children, Mahogany (8) and Shaheed (1), drives everything she has done to provide them with a better life.
Coming from a big family, with 4 siblings and 18 nieces and nephews, Crystal knows the importance of family. She enjoys spending time with her children and even coaches her daughter’s softball team. While Shaheed is too young for sports right now, he loves cheering on his sister. Crystal hopes that he will play basketball once he gets older.
Crystal has worked at an agricultural equipment manufacturing plant for 13 years and could not be happier with her job. She was recently promoted to Qualification Leader, where she serves as both a technician and an administrator. She is thankful for her flexible schedule and encouraging work family that will support her throughout her home build.
Despite working a good, stable job, Crystal would not have been able to qualify for a conventional mortgage. She initially applied to the Knoxville Habitat for Humanity’s homeownership program after the birth of her daughter but needed to improve her credit before she could qualify. She took the advice of the Family Services department and began working to pay off debt and bring up her credit score. All of this hard work was worth it when she reapplied and was accepted! Through the homeownership program, she will build her very own safe, stable home before purchasing it with a zero-interest mortgage.
Currently, Crystal and her children live in a two-bedroom rental home. The family is already cramped in this space, and as Mahogany and Shaheed continue to grow, this problem will only get worse. Crystal has already had to convert the dining room into a bedroom for Shaheed. She looks forward to building her new Habitat home so that Mahogany and Shaheed will have their own rooms. This family will finally have the space that they greatly need.
Crystal is so honored to be building with the Family and Friends of Janie House. When she was told about Janie’s love and commitment to Habitat for Humanity, she said: “You just don’t see people with a heart like that.”
In thanks of how blessed they are, Crystal and her children go by their future homesite a few times a week to pray over the area. Crystal said that this home is going “to mean the world to me.” She wants to lead by example and show her children that they can do anything they want, as long as they work hard like she has through this journey to homeownership.