With her strong abiding faith and motivation to transform the lives of her and her three children through owning their own home, Amanda Hanner is on her way to creating a brighter future for them. She is building a better tomorrow for her family through our homeownership program as one of our latest HIP Partners.
Though she works full time as a closing coordinator at IFG, a boat financing company, Amanda could not afford decent housing in St. Lucie County. Amanda exhausted resources for housing assistance.
As a single mother to Aliyah, 15 years-old, Weslee, 11 years-old, and Addison, 6 years-old, she found herself and her children needing to move in with her parents and sister six years ago. Her sister, Elisabeth is confined to a wheelchair. It is a very cramped living space with the children sharing the family room to sleep in at night.
Amanda’s determination to move through a series of low points in her life including an abusive relationship that she ended, frequent moves, evictions, and credit challenges, fueled her desire to bring positive, long-lasting solutions to her situation. She worked on her credit, went back to school to earn her degree and found a better job. Amanda was laying the foundation that would assist her in receiving approval to be our family partner as a HIP.
This year her mother suggested that she apply to St. Lucie Habitat’s homeownership program. Through the application process, Amanda did not give up and did not lose her faith that something good was going to happen. For others that may be applying, she encourages them to stay positive and keep trying even if it doesn’t work out the first time.
When asked how owning her own home will impact her family, she says it will offer her family stability, make her children feel better and realize hope for the future and that it will set them up for success in life. Home to her means, “sharing home with my children, having peace of mind, a sense of permanency and making it our own, having space and privacy.”
Her family is eager and excited about performing their 300 sweat equity hours. Even after their home is complete, she still wants to volunteer at other Habitat build sites.
Amanda is looking forward to moving into her new home, having neighbors of her own, making new friends, and riding bikes with her children.
Amanda is thankful to the board of directors, sponsors, and St. Lucie Habitat’s team for this opportunity. She feels her family has been blessed more than they’ll ever know.
Anyone with questions is encouraged to call DonnaLea at 772-464-1117, ext. 104 or email [email protected].
