“Having my own home, for me and my daughters, makes me feel like we made it. We did it. I’m able to give not only long-term stability but short-term security too. My daughters are 13 and 7, and that’s something they can always say: ‘Oh, mommy did this for us. We have our own room, we have our own space,’” homeowner Virginia expressed with deep gratitude for the opportunities Habitat Chesapeake’s (HFHC) homeownership program provides.
Owning an HFHC home offers families like Virginia’s the opportunity to build generational wealth — an investment she can eventually pass on to her daughters. The equity she builds through paying a mortgage creates financial value that belongs to her and grows as she continues to make payments. HFHC offers zero-percent interest rates with a cap of 30% of a homebuyer’s gross income, making the dream of homeownership attainable for families who might otherwise face financial barriers.
Virginia credited her daughters for serving as her vital support system throughout this process. “They give me the strength to keep moving forward. When I feel like I can’t go on, I think about their future and what I am teaching them every day—what it means to be strong and independent—and I keep moving forward.” She added that her daughters have big plans for the basement, turning it into one big playroom. Virginia also expressed her deep gratitude for the HFHC staff for their guidance and support, “Working with everyone in the program has really helped me be confident in the fact that I can do this.”
When she is not completing sweat equity hours or taking part in HFHC’s financial literacy and home maintenance classes, Virginia works as a direct support professional. Often working the “awake overnight” shift, she cares for three differently-abled individuals, ensuring their living environment is clean, their groceries are stocked and their needs are met.
The Baltimore native is excited about moving into a new neighborhood. Through the HFHC program, she has already met a few of her future neighbors and looks forward to “spending years as not only neighbors but family.” She eagerly imagined cookouts and celebrations to come. Her new home is located in the Milton-Montford area.
HFHC began working in Milton-Montford and surrounding communities in East Baltimore from 2010 to 2015, building and restoring over 90 houses. Through this investment, along with the dedication of homeowners and the support of the Southeast Community Development Corporation, the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation and Johns Hopkins, this area is experiencing rapid growth and renewal. Since 2010, the number of abandoned and vacant homes in the area has decreased from 42% to just 8%. In 2019, HFHC acquired an additional 15 homes, bringing the number of HFHC homes in East Baltimore to over 100.
Virginia explained that growing up as a renter in someone else’s home was the norm, and the prospect of owning a home of her own felt like a far-off dream. But now, as she nears the completion of the program and prepares to move into her new home, she reflects with immense pride on how far she has come. “This program allowed me to have confidence in myself,” she said.
For Virginia, this new chapter isn’t just about a house — it’s about creating a legacy of strength, independence and hope for her daughters, one that will inspire them to reach for their own dreams and know that anything is possible when you believe in yourself.