Kenyahta lived in public housing for 7 years before she applied for the Homeownership Program with Habitat for Humanity Sarasota. A mother to a 4th grader and two preschoolers, Kenyahta focused on working as many hours as she could to elevate her family out of public housing. She sacrificed time with her children and was unable to afford anything extra, not even extracurricular activities.
About 3 years ago, Kenyahta decided to dig deep and enrolled in the Family Self Sufficiency Program (FSS) offered by the Sarasota Housing Authority. She set a goal to earn an advanced nursing degree to increase her income potential. Kenyahta’s increase in earned income while participating in the FSS program allowed her to earn escrow toward a down payment for a home purchase. This enabled her to purchase a home and move out of public housing.
Habitat Sarasota collaborated with the Sarasota Housing Authority to help her achieve her goal of homeownership. Now employed as a CMA, earning more money, and paying an affordable mortgage, Kenyahta and her children have the opportunity for stability and self-reliance.
Kenyahta and her children now have a 1,300 square foot house that they are proud to call their “forever” home. The home features three bedrooms, two bathrooms, impact windows, a new HVAC unit, and all major appliances. The David Lindsay Foundation provided funding for the installation of impact windows and a new HV/AC unit.
Down payment assistance was needed to cover the affordability gap. Therefore, Habitat Sarasota reached out to the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and shared Kenyahta’s story. The need aligned with a donor fund, the Edward K. Roberts Fund, which was created to move single moms out of poverty. Habitat Sarasota received a grant which enabled Kenyahta to sign a mortgage that is only $30 more per month than she was paying to live in public housing.
Thank you to our partners
Funding was provided by the Edward K. Roberts Fund at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and the David Lindsay Foundation.
Kenyahta, her grandmother, and Roxie Jerde at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County 
Priscilla Lindsay from the David Lindsay Foundation and Kenyahta in her new kitchen