Jevita owns this home. Jevita told this story in 2016, while still renting it, and later bought it. The words below are Jevita’s own and they are printed as they were.
"I realized as my child got older the importance of homeownership for my family would be in order to continue to care for him at home."
- Jevita | Strong Blocks Rent to Own Milwaukee Resident
I am a mother of three, music enthusiast, who loves life, DIY, and a good meal. I grew up in Flint Michigan, where a lot of my family still resides, that I love and I miss very much. I have been sending water and juice there to contribute to alleviating their water crisis. I moved away from Flint when I was twelve years old with my mother and siblings. We moved around quite a bit before settling in Milwaukee when I was fifteen.
"I had my first child at eighteen and became determined to become financially independent. So, by nineteen I was trained and working as a certified nursing assistant."
I had my first child at eighteen and became determined to become financially independent. So, by nineteen I was trained and working as a certified nursing assistant. It was hard work, but steady full time employment. How valuable the skills I learned would become over years due to one of my children being diagnosed with a disability.
I realized as my child got older the importance of homeownership for my family would be in order to continue to care for him at home. So, I participated in a lot of homeownership programs and workshops. I learned a lot, though none of the programs at the time were a good fit for my family. Overall, I learned it was far easier to get a new car than it was to purchase a house. Nevertheless, I stayed motivated, I lived frugally, and I did my best to pay bills on time. However, after several deaths in my family in the span a four year period, including a cousin that was like a brother to me that was murdered Mother’s Day 2014, I had grown weary.
"I felt like I had exhausted all of my homeownership possibilities. So I planned to save, live frugally, and be ready to move to another state."
I felt like I had exhausted all of my home ownership possibilities in Milwaukee. So I had planned to save as much as I could, continue to live frugally, and be ready to move to another state in a year and start anew. In the meantime, I needed to move so I checked on an application for a townhouse I put in for a while ago with Friends of Housing and seen a sign in the reception area for the Strong Blocks Program. I asked the receptionist about it and she provided me with information about the program. I got home and filled everything out online and to my surprise they contacted me within a few days.
"I got home and filled everything out online and to my surprise they contacted me within a few days."
Everything went so fast from the qualification process through to the present. I was very skeptical the whole time, leaning on my plan B. However, everything went well and I am still in shock, waiting for my feet to touch the floor! When I saw my house for the first time I knew that God had not forgotten me! He just wanted me to work on my humility and patience. I couldn’t have picked a better house for my family. My home has everything my family needs and a whole lot of what we wanted (pun intended)!
"When I saw my house for the first time I knew that God had not forgotten me!"
I appreciate the Strong Blocks team very much. They helped and encouraged me through this entire process. I am just so grateful. Also, Mary at Acts Housing was the best, she is just awesome. I have recommended the Strong Blocks Program to a couple of people. Presently, I am feeling really blessed and empowered by this experience!
- Jevita | Strong Blocks Rent to Own Milwaukee Resident
Jevita rented this home, then bought it. That is the whole point of the program: you move in as a renter and you leave as the owner.
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