Clearwater Mother Builds Home with Habitat for Humanity

Katrina Hayes, an Advanced Medical Support Assistant at the Department of Veterans Affairs, is building a home through Habitat for Humanity after years of living in a single room with her 18-year-old son Jarrion.

Hayes and Jarrion shared cramped quarters in a shared space until rising rents made independent housing unaffordable. She accepted an offer from the Habitat for Humanity program and, she said, "cried tears of joy while thanking God."

Through the program, Hayes completes sweat equity hours on build sites, learning landscaping and caulking. "I want to learn how to use tools, maintain a home, and even build a deck one day," she said.

Hayes views the home as permanent. "This is our final address," she declared. She plans to cook holiday meals, decorate the yard, and give Jarrion, who dreams of becoming a pilot, musician, and entrepreneur, stability and proof that homeownership is within reach.

The home also holds deeper meaning for Hayes. She lost two of her four children to tragic circumstances and sees the new house as a place to honor their memory and build new moments with her family.

Residents interested in Habitat for Humanity's Homeowner Program can visit the organization's website to check eligibility.