When you ask ten-year-old Kaiden about his mom, he proudly says, “My mom is an awesome woman.”
Kaiden and his mom, Sarah, are each other’s world. Together, they have pushed through difficult times and encouraged and cared for one another. “He’s my lifeline,” Sarah lovingly shares about her son.
Kaiden has been asked to skip multiple grades because of his high intelligence. “It shows that even in some of the worst conditions, he can still overcome,” Sarah said.
Aside from her primary role as Kaiden’s mom, Sarah is a restaurant manager, construction manager, and small business owner. She is also a student at a local community college and is working to earn her associate degree in psychology.
After years of helping other people build their homes, Sarah is ready to have a space to call her own.
Sarah first applied to become a homeowner through Knoxville Habitat for Humanity several years ago after her rental was broken into and destroyed. “It was very invasive,” Sarah recalled the incident. “Someone broke in through the wall with an axe. They tipped over dressers, ate food out of our fridge, took a shower, and stole Kaiden’s toys.”
Since then, Sarah has started renting space from a family member and working to get her finances in order. She has spent the past four years paying off her loans and improving her credit score to build a stronger foundation for her family. Her hard work has paid off, and she will soon begin building her family’s home in the new Ellen’s Glen neighborhood.
Sarah is ecstatic about building and buying her forever home. “I won’t have to worry about finding another place or having to move again when rental prices rise, and I’ll be able to create a future for Kaiden that I wouldn’t be able to in other circumstances,” Sarah said.
Their new home will bring hope, community and new opportunities. Kaiden will be able to switch schools and be in an environment that allows him to grow, explore and thrive. Sarah will be able to find rest and peace as she experiences the strength, stability and self-reliance that comes from being a homeowner. Together, they will create new memories and find lifelong friends in their loving neighborhood.
