Unlocking Affordable Homeownership

The idea of homeownership has always been in the back of Andrian Wells’ mind, but she has never felt like she could afford her own home. Between rent increasing every year and the lack of maintenance in her current apartment, Andrian was searching for a way to own a place of her own — that’s when she found Habitat’s homeownership program.

The day Andrian found out she was accepted into the program was one to remember and she knew it was a step in the right direction.

“I had no idea I’d find out that day because I went out of town and I hadn’t heard anything, so I was like, “What’s going on? Did I not get accepted?” I even told God, ‘If somebody else really needs this home, then I’ll just figure something else out, and I’ll be okay with not getting it, even though I really wanted it.’ When I found out I was accepted, I cried so much.”

As someone who’s always wanted the stability of owning a home, the Wendell Phillips neighborhood couldn’t be a better place to provide just that. Andrian’s stepfather is the president of the Wendell Phillips Neighborhood Association, also being one reason why she was hopeful for her acceptance into the program.
“I will be living right next door to my parents, and I think this will be a really good move for my kids. My son is getting older and he doesn’t have many male influences around him, so it will be nice for him to be close to my stepdad.”

Andrian is excited to let her kids choose exactly how they want their bedrooms to be decorated. She visualizes a swinging chair on her front porch and a velvet couch in her living room.

“I’ve never had the space for any of this. I can’t wait to have good company to celebrate me and how far I’ve come. I know that when I have my new home, I can get out of my comfort zone to host family during the holidays.”

Anjeanette knows that homeownership through Habitat KC is her best opportunity to build stability for herself and her three grandchildren she cares for.

A former addict, Anjeanette has struggled with homelessness as she battled substance abuse for years. A battle that would eventually force her to leave her family in Kansas City and move to Georgia in an effort to break her cycle of addiction.

“When I went to Georgia, I cleaned up,” Anjeanette said. “I got into a program and learned how to stay clean. I needed help and God used people in Georgia to show me how to get better.”

Now, 13 years sober and once again living in Kansas City, Anjeanette works as a custodian to support her three grandchildren who live with her in her sister’s home. She says that her sister, who is also a Habitat homeowner, has been a huge support for her and was the first person to encourage her to apply to Habitat KC.

Anjeanette considered applying for a home of her own but was hesitant. She was concerned that at 55 years old, it would be hard for her to complete the sweat equity hours needed to fulfill her partnership or meet the financial requirements. However, after living in a Habitat home and experiencing the peace and stability it brought to her family, Anjeanette made a commitment to build a home of her own so that her grandchildren would have the space they need to grow and thrive.

“I’m excited because it’s a place that will give us security,” Anjeanette said. “In my heart, I believe it will bring our family together. It will be a place that is ours, a place to go home to. I’m thankful that I can give that to them.”

Now, as she works on her sweat equity hours, Anjeanette thinks a lot about how far she has come. After relying on the help of others for years while she struggled with homelessness and addiction, she now has the chance to give back and build a better life for herself and her grandchildren.

Above all else, Anjeanette says she is excited to build a place of stability, a place that will always be hers.

“I’m looking forward to sitting in my living room and having my own home, to putting my key in my door, turn that lock and knowing, ‘This is mine’.”

After years of moving, Marlon Toledo and his family are finally getting to live out their dream of owning a safe and stable home through Habitat KC’s affordable homeownership program.

“We’ve probably lived in 10 houses in the last 15 years’’ said Marlon. “I’m just ready to provide my children with a home where they can have their own space to express themselves.”

Family is everything for Marlon, and when finding out that he was going to become a homeowner, he shared that it was a very emotional experience.
“I was almost in shock. It was hard to process the information. It’s crazy to think that this is real and I don’t have to go back to Mexico because I am able to build a foundation for my family right here in Kansas City.”

As Marlon looks ahead, the future brings hope and family traditions. Marlon plans to re-establish a tradition from his own childhood.
“I want to have a garden for my family to grow our own food — maybe even a mini farm with chickens. In Mexico, I grew up on a way of sustainable living, and I want to share and build that bond with my children.”