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From Service to Home: Building a Future with Habitat for Humanity Tucson

"You’re working with the people that are going to be your neighbors. They're building what may be your home or your neighbors’ homes. You're already establishing a sense of community, even before you've moved into your home."

Jaime Woody recognizes the advantages of our Homebuyer Program, including a low mortgage rate, assistance with saving for a down payment, and the benefit of collaborating with future neighbors.
Jaime, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, understands dedication and commitment. She volunteered with Habitat Tucson prior, and when she was in the military. She saw the financial benefits for our Homebuyer Program and was determined to apply once she transitioned to civilian life. Jaime points to the annual rising rent rates she is facing and the fact that this is causing her financial strain. She works in the Finance Department of a local business and is adept at managing her finances carefully.
Currently, Jaime is living in a cramped 2-bedroom duplex with her 3 younger children-Evander (age 11), Elaine (age 12), and Sonora (age 14). Describing her family as colorful, she notes that with a teenager and two tweens sharing a master bedroom, privacy is in short supply. Jaime laughs, saying, “They’re willing to lock themselves in the bathroom just to get some quiet time.” Her family is eager for a space they can truly call home. Their apartment complex only has one washer and one dryer for all the tenants to share, so it can get competitive just to do basic household chores like laundry.
 
Her family comes together as her 3 older children, who live outside her home, help take care of the younger siblings while she puts in her sweat equity. In that spirit of community and giving back, she describes her favorite part of working at the HabiStore.

“I'm kind of an introvert, and so they usually have you out there on the sales floor to help the customers and whatnot, and selling all this stuff, because you can sell a lot of stuff in one day at the HabiStore,” Jaime shared, “and actually that was really surprising for myself that I was able to get out of my comfort zone and do the sales aspects of working there.”

The opportunity to build a new home for her family, work alongside her future neighbors, and look forward to a space that will be at least double the size of their current living situation fills Jaime with excitement. She adds, “The space will be amazing, and being able to call it mine will be the best part.”

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