Although Cheslie had always worked hard to provide for the needs of her 5 young children, she had struggled for years to find a path to home ownership that would work for her and her family. When she heard about Habitat’s program from a friend, she knew that she had found the right partnership. “I was told that Habitat takes you through the process and stays with you every step of the way. It’s exactly what I needed.”

From the beginning of her journey with Habitat, she impressed staff and volunteers alike with her energy and persistence, even when completing difficult tasks.  She was a frequently-requested volunteer at the Habitat ReStore, where she earned a reputation as someone who could help with the heavy lifting (sometimes alongside other volunteers nearly twice her size). “I learned you have to work for it,” she said, “but best of all, I literally helped build my home from the ground up.”

Yet, her home wasn’t the only thing Cheslie was building. After experiencing the generosity of so many volunteers who helped with her home, she was inspired to return to school to become a dialysis technician. “Working with the volunteers has made me want to help people more.  By being in the medical field, I can give back to the community that has helped me.”

Cheslie is looking forward to a new chapter in her life. “I can’t wait to start my new career and save money, because my mortgage is less than my rent was.  I won’t have to stress about making ends meet, and I’ll be able to put more time into my education and with my kids.” Cheslie and her family settled into their new home in October 2014.