Through her tenacity, persistence, deep faith and vision for a better future for her son and herself, Tameka Zackery is on the path to homeownership as one of our new Homeowner-in-Process Partners (HIP).
Tameka is a single mother to 14-year-old Dave, who is a special needs child and two adult children. She is also a grandmother to two, one grandchild is deceased. She works full time as an electronic processer at a local credit union.
The road that led her to St. Lucie Habitat includes her life experiences with homelessness, divorce and caring for her son, Dave, who is on the Autism spectrum and has epilepsy, as well. They have had to move frequently and do not have a sense of belonging. Tameka and Dave currently live in an apartment that constantly needs repairs or mold mitigation. Sometimes the repairs get done and other times not.
Dave’s caseworker brought St. Lucie Habitat’s Homeownership Program to the attention of Tameka during the last open application cycle. Thankful for the opportunity, she immediately applied with a sense of hope that this could be the start of a whole new life chapter.
Tameka stayed open and committed to the application process, doing what was asked. She recommends to others that may be applying for the Homeownership Program to be ready, dedicated to the process and do what is yours to do.
She can’t wait to start contributing her 300 required hours of sweat equity because it is her home, and she is committed to work for it for her and her son. There is no stopping Tameka.
Tameka is looking forward to the stability of owning a new home that will give her and Dave a sense of belonging and a sense of permanency. She said “there will be less stress, more peace and something to pass on to Dave”. Having their own home will open the doors to the delivery of medical home services that are available for her son. This is not possible now.
She said there are no easy words to describe the joy and gratitude she has for being accepted as a new Homeowner-in-Process (HIP) with St. Lucie Habitat.
