It requires a huge amount of strength and determination to take care of family members in need, but India has done it well and without hesitation. When her mother, Yvonne, began battling stage three lung cancer, India became her main caregiver. She also often cares for her grandson, Cam’ron (6), especially during the summer. After taking in her elderly mother and caring for her grandson, India knew that finding a safe, affordable home is essential to providing a healthy, stable life for her family.
India enjoys watching movies with her family, and she never misses one of Cam’ron’s basketball games … She loves watching him play. India and her mother often visit parks to enjoy the fresh air, which Yvonne enjoys because it helps with her breathing issues.
India works as a certified maintenance technician at an apartment complex near the University of Tennessee Campus. She is excited to build and live in South Knoxville where she will be closer to her job and more conveniently located near The University of Tennessee Medical Center where her mother can receive better care and treatments as she continues her battle with cancer.
They will also be near plenty of parks and outdoor opportunities, and India will have her very own yard where she can watch Cam’ron play basketball.
After applying to the Knoxville Habitat for Humanity homeownership program twice in four years, India actively worked to improve her credit score, so she could build a better life for her family. The third time was “a charm” as her hard work paid off, and she was accepted into the program.
India has now been working through the program for two years and has already finished her weekly budget classes. She is now working to finish her required volunteer hours, so she can successfully complete her 500 hours of sweat equity and build her home alongside volunteers. She says that the program has been “hard, but I’m grateful.”
India’s favorite part of the Habitat program so far is all the people she has worked with. “Everyone is so nice. Everyone shows genuine concern for people owning homes and being able to provide a home and stable life for their families.”
Through tears, she says, “I’m grateful for the people helping me … This is a real accomplishment for me.”
India is inspired by her late grandmother, “Granny G.” She says Granny G took her to church every Sunday when she was young, and India says this was “the best gift she ever gave me … Now I can give that to my grandbaby.” India wants to provide her grandson “a life and a future” by passing down her home to him one day.
With the help of her generous Covenant Partners and caring volunteers, India will be able to more easily care for her mother and build a stable future for little Cam’ron.