Teresa is a grandmother that loves spending time and making memories with her family. In fact, she cares for five of her eight grandchildren every weekend.
And soon, she will build and purchase a safe and permanent home where she’ll find stability, save money and experience more joy, peace and happiness. And her grandchildren will be able to more safely and freely enjoy their precious time at their grandmother’s house.
Teresa is originally from Colorado, but, as she says, “The Lord brought my family and I to Knoxville.” For over the past six years, she has worked for the University of Tennessee as a bus driver.
Since being accepted into the Knoxville Habitat for Humanity program, Teresa has been working hard to earn 500 sweat equity hours, a requirement of every future homeowner, that includes classes to prepare for successful homeownership and volunteer time.
Teresa is required to take a weekly budgeting class for one year. She says the time she’s spent in these classes have proven very successful already, even before moving into her future home.
“With the money I will save each month (with monthly house payments lower than her rent) and using what I’ve learned in my class, I plan to pay off my car and start saving more.”
Teresa currently lives in a rental home and finds it difficult to make ends meet with her monthly rent. Like many renters in Knoxville, she is experiencing the strain of rising rental costs that has led to the local, statewide and national issues of housing affordability (read more at knoxvillehabitat.com/costofhome).
And although Teresa works hard to barely make ends meet, she experiences issues with that many renters have to endure when paying the rent they can afford, such as not receiving basic maintenance and pest control.
But even through the current challenges, Teresa is excited to achieve her dream of homeownership, with the help and sponsorship of her wonderful Covenant Partner, Credit Unions Care.
Building and owning a home through Knoxville Habitat will provide Teresa with an opportunity to safely care for her grandchildren, decorate her home and make it her own, and finally enjoy planting flowers in her yard – a hobby she has longed to be able to do for many years.