For Gracie, a single mother of three, the dream of homeownership was a promise she made to herself and her children years ago. Now, as a future homeowner with Habitat for Humanity Tucson’s Homeownership Program, she is turning that promise into a reality, building not just a house, but the stable, safe foundation her family has always needed.
Gracie’s family is a lively and close-knit unit. She will be moving into the new home with her three children: nine-year-old Logan, five-year-old Noah, and three-year-old Tinsley. The children are already invested in the process, eagerly watching their future home take shape. “We actually get to drive by the site… and they’ve actually kind of gotten to see the progress,” Gracie shared. “Whenever we drive past it, I’m like, ‘That’s what mommy’s working on right now.'”
The path to this moment has been marked by significant hardship and resilience. Gracie has faced the immense challenge of homelessness. “We were homeless for a little bit,” she revealed, explaining that she lost her job of five years after her daughter was born with disabilities and required numerous appointments. “I worked very hard to get us out of that situation.”
Even after finding housing, the struggle continued. The relentless rise in rent became a heavy burden. “I cannot keep affording the rents going up. It’s almost killing me,” Gracie confessed. “It’s every year rent keeps going up a couple $100… I cannot do it anymore.” This constant financial pressure made the stability of a forever home feel like a distant dream.
Gracie first learned about Habitat Tucson by driving past the construction site on Nogales Highway. The program’s philosophy resonated deeply with her own strong work ethic. “I’m a very hard-working person, but I just need a little help,” she said. “I don’t really need a handout, but I just needed a hand up.” The acceptance into the program was the fulfillment of a long-held goal.
"When I first had my oldest son nine years ago, I was like, man... how am I ever going be able to give him anything?" she recalled. "And I was like, you know what? By the time you're 30, you're going to own a house... I turned 30 over the summer and in June I found out that I was going to be able to give my kids this home. It was the best birthday that I could have received!"
Embracing the sweat equity portion of the Homeownership Program, Gracie has already contributed over 100 hours, working through her fall break to meet her requirements. She has been involved from the early stages of construction, learning invaluable skills along the way. “I really like to learn how to do everything so that, you know, if I ever need to fix anything later on, I’m going to know how to do that,” she noted, praising the helpful and supportive crew on site.
Looking forward, Gracie’s vision for her new home is centered on the safety and stability she never had growing up in foster care. For her, the home means “just to be able to have a place that’s stable [and] safe that I created for my kids.”
With the foundation of a secure home, Gracie is already planning her next goal: furthering her education to become an RBT and continue her work with children with special needs. But for now, her focus is on the legacy she is building.Â
Through determination and with the support of her community, Gracie is not just building a house—she is building a forever home where her family can finally put down roots and thrive.
Like Gracie, your family can benefit from the Habitat for Humanity Tucson’s Homeownership Program. Learn more about how it works here.