Dynasty’s journey through housing instability started with the Miami Valley’s most devastating weather event of the past decade, the 2019 Memorial Day tornadoes. Destructive EF-4-rated tornadoes roared through the area, leaving thousands displaced from their homes. Dynasty and her young family were among them.
“It was hard being displaced,” she recalled. “I had to stay with family and friends, then at an Airbnb that my family paid for, then several different apartments.”
But at the latest Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton home dedication ceremony, that journey ended six years later with her own new four-bedroom home in Trotwood.
“To be in a home to call our own is such a blessing,” said the single mother of five young children. “It was always a dream of mine, but no, I didn’t see this coming."
“One thing that drew me to this lot was the size of the yard,” she continued. “To be able to have a place for my children to play and host family events was very important to me.”
The importance of her family was evident as she cried happy tears while thanking everyone for giving her the opportunity to purchase her home through Habitat’s zero-percent interest mortgage program.
“I want to thank God first,” Dynasty said, her voice cracking with overwhelming joy. “I want to thank Habitat for allowing me the opportunity to make my dream a reality. And I want to thank my supporting village. Being a single parent with five children, working full-time Monday through Friday, I needed a lot of help to do this, especially with the children.”
“I’ve met some amazing people and created friendships I hope will last a lifetime,” she continued. “I’ve learned a lot of things, not just about housing but about myself.”
This was a CenterPoint Energy Foundation Build, with the long-time Habitat sponsor providing significant funding and volunteers for the project. Jessie Bush, Manager of Ohio Gas Operation for CenterPoint Energy, was moved by the impact Habitat’s program has made and issued a challenge to all supporters.
“It gives us goosebumps when we talk about this new journey for Dynasty’s family,” she said. “We’re proud and humbled to be a part of this great day."
“We’ve got one done,” she continued. “But there is so much work ahead of us to build many more of these homes. We can do so much more when we work together.”
Dayton Habitat Development Director David Mauch agreed, pointing out that this day of celebration couldn’t have been possible without partnerships.
“We run a partnership program,” he said. “We don’t give away homes, we give away opportunities. Dynasty and her family have taken advantage of this opportunity. They are our No. 1 partner. Then it is the community and sponsors like CenterPoint Energy.”
He pointed out that it was CenterPoint that gave Habitat the “seed money” to start what is now a thriving critical repairs program.
“They have helped us so much through the years,” he said, “and not just in building homes. They pretty much started our critical repairs program when the tornadoes hit in 2019. Last year, we made over 140 critical repairs to homes for mostly senior homeowners.”
Other key sponsors for the project included FHLB Cincinnati, the City of Trotwood, and the Ohio Department of Development.
Dynasty had some advice for those considering joining the Habitat mission as applicants or supporters.
“I would say, ‘Go for it;’ that’s what I did,” she said. “The main thing is breaking generational curses and providing generational wealth. Growing up, my parents didn’t have anything like this. I’m so thankful.”
If you would like to join the Habitat mission as a donor, volunteer, or homeowner, visit DaytonHabitat.Org or call 937-586-0860.
