From Humble Beginnings to Giving Back: A Personal Journey Inspiring Donations to Habitat

When Kaitlyn makes a donation to Habitat, she does so knowing how much stable housing means to a child.

As a young child in Wisconsin, she and her family moved a number of times. Her father worked for a nonprofit and did not earn enough to purchase a home. “We lived in a series of trailers until I was 8, when we were able to move to a house my grandparents owned and begin renting from them,” she recalls. “Even though we didn’t own the home, just having stable housing from then on made a big difference and was very important to my success in life.”

Eight years ago, Kaitlyn moved to Winston-Salem to work for Sunrise Technologies and became involved with the Habitat Young Professionals. The more she learned about how the Habitat model works, the more inspired she became. She now supports Habitat through donations that are matched by her company.

“I think about my grandparents, other extended family, and other community members who helped us, and now I want to pay it forward. The great thing about giving to Habitat is that your support stays in the local ecosystem. A Habitat homeowner makes mortgage payments that then go toward helping another family. It is a wonderful giving model.”

As Habitat families work toward homeownership, they are also building their self-confidence and self-esteem, she said. “I know from experience that when someone just gives you something, sometimes you don’t feel the same sense of pride. Habitat families receive a low- or no-interest loan, and they become personally responsible for making mortgage payments. It builds up their sense of self, and they feel a real sense of ownership.”

Overcoming Adversity: Habitat Program Empowers Mother of Four to Persevere

Ms. Benton is excited that she and her four children, ages 2 to 8, finally have a yard of their own, where they can play and burn off their energy at their new Habitat home. “In an apartment you don’t have any privacy. You hear a lot of noise and sometimes have to wait and wait for a repair person to come fix things.”

A native of Winston-Salem, Ms. Benton is a quality manager for a local plasma donation center. The Habitat program has been very valuable in teaching her a lot about finances and how to care for a house, she said.

“It is a great program, a very educational program. They’ve taught us everything from how to take care of a yard to how to plant flowers and grow your own vegetables, and how to fix things in the house so you don’t have to spend money paying repair people all the time.”

Ms. Benton said she believes her three sons and one daughter will benefit greatly from the stability of owning a home. “They will get to know their neighbors and make friends and help build a community. I look forward to having something that is really my own, and something they can call their own, too.”

Homeowners in Progress (HIP)

Habitat's HIP 24 Class began with a kickoff event showcasing the program's commitment to providing comprehensive support, including financial literacy workshops and personalized counseling. Through collaborative efforts with volunteers, sponsors, and local organizations, Habitat Forsyth is poised to make a lasting impact in creating affordable housing solutions and building stronger communities.

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