On her journey to homeownership, Tanya Clayton welcomed the opportunity to become a St. Lucie Habitat Homeowner. She and her family moved in to their home almost three years ago. As a single parent to six children, she understood what a difference owning her own home would make in her children’s lives and her own. Providing a stable, safe, decent and affordable place to call home, where her family could thrive, is exactly what they needed.
Fast-track to the present: Tanya is now married to Jody Tripp. She is about to graduate college with a Registered Nurse-ADN degree. Jody is the Plant Ops Director of Solaris.
Her children are all successful in their academic and career lives. Her son Austin, is now 20 years-old, lives in Georgia and is doing well working as an auto diesel mechanic. Tanya’s daughter, Mercedez, is 17 years-old and going into her senior year of high school with a plan to be a Psychology Major and begin a career helping youth with Mental health. Her son, Eathan, is 16 years-old and actively involved in JROTC is career plan includes dual enrollment to start his classes leading to a degree in criminal justice. Her son, Owen, is 15 years-old and is doing well in school. He enjoys Jujitsu and has plans to major in business administration. Tanya’s son, Issak, is 13 years-old. He is in advanced placement in school plus he enjoys jujitsu and wants to become a mechanical engineer. Her youngest son, Grayson, is 9 years-old and is doing well in school, enjoys playing baseball, and wants to be a police officer.
To teach her teenagers about a budget, meal planning and cooking, the family started a practice over the last year where the teens of the house get to plan and cook the meals. They choose their meals, make a grocery list with a given budget, then have to go grocery shopping, making any adjustments needed to stay under budget and prepare the meals on the night they have the kitchen as their chore. It’s been fun! They have learned a lot about cooking, budgeting, and management of time.
This is just an exciting and encouraging update of how becoming a St. Lucie Habitat homeowner can transform a family’s lives and their future’s. We will periodically share other St. Lucie Habitat Homeowner updates through the year. So be on the lookout.
