“I didn’t feel like I could do it on my own, but here I am.”

In January of 2019, Gale had an epiphany.

“One morning, I woke up and realized that I had to stop renting. I was wasting my money every month and I was never going to grow until I owned my own home.”

Inspired to change her life and the lives of her two children, Gale applied to Habitat KC, was accepted into the program, and is now building her own home as part of Habitat KC’s 2020 Women Build, something she never thought she would do.

“I never felt like I could afford a home as a single parent. I didn’t feel like I could do it on my own, but here I am.”

Gale says she knows that being a homeowner will set here children up for future success too by giving them the stability they need. By owning, they’ll no longer have to frequently move to afford rent and her children won’t be forced to frequently change schools. Plus, their new home is just blocks away from friends and family, something Gale’s son, Roman, is excited about.

As construction begins, Gale says she can’t wait to see her home come together and to work with volunteers to build the next chapter of her life.

“It will be mine. It will be ours. It will be our home and it always will be.”