It took five years, but it was well worth the journey for Alesha. Standing in her new Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton home in Trotwood during her recent dedication ceremony, she reflected on her unlikely path to new homeownership.
“I’d like to thank Habitat and everyone who helped; I really appreciate them making my kids’ dream come true and my dream come true,” Alesha said. “To have our own home … it’s God’s gift to us.”
“I was shaking this morning when I was signing my papers,” she continued. “It seems like it has been a long time coming. Me and two friends applied a year before COVID, and I’m the last one to get a home. But it was worth it.”
The single mother of six’s home was built with Habitat’s Bank Build theme, rallying local financial institutions to provide financial and volunteer support for the project. Ivy Glover, Director of Social Impact at Wright-Patt Credit Union and a Habitat board member, was co-chairperson for the build.
“We could be seen as competitors, but we’re not; we’re collaborators,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what organization does the work, just so that it gets done.”
Aaron Lumpkin, Community Manager at JPMorgan Chase & Co., was the other Bank Build co-chairperson.
“Aaron and I had the pleasure of kicking it off with this home, but we recognize that there could be so much more done with this (theme),” Ivy said. “The power of a spirit of collaboration is a beautiful thing. This is just teeing things off. There’s so much more in the planning stages.”
Aaron, who was raised in Trotwood, has bigger things in mind as well.
“We (Chase) are interested in driving homeownership in lower-income areas,” he said. “Think of how many hours that are spent in our home. That drives home the point of how important homeownership is to the growth of families and communities.”
Several local community leaders were among those in attendance.
“I am very happy for this family and thankful that they were able have a home of their own,” said Debbie Lieberman, Montgomery County Commissioner. “But what I’m most thankful for is Habitat for Humanity and all of its volunteers. They’ve made such a difference in our community.”
Added Trotwood Mayor Yvette Page: “I’m glad that you chose Trotwood and glad that Habitat chose to build in Trotwood again. I couldn’t be happier to see this happen. This is a super blessing.”
Supporters and volunteers were on hand to help Alesha and her children celebrate, including several who presented special gifts to the family. Father Ben Speare-Hardy of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Trotwood blessed the house at the beginning of the ceremony. Then he blessed one of Alesha’s daughters, Jakiya, with a surprise $3,000 scholarship from the church. She plans to study nursing starting this fall.
“I’m very happy,” Jakiya said, fighting back happy tears. “I feel like I can do anything if I put my mind to it.”
No doubt she got that from her mom.
If you want to volunteer for or donate to Habitat’s mission, or if you know someone who needs help through one of our programs, go to daytonhabitat.org or call 937-586-0860.
