Habitat Homeowner Shannon

“We laughed and cried with Shannon,” Shannon’s mother said the day of her home dedication. “We were her support network, but she wouldn’t be here without Habitat.”

Shannon is a mother to four beautiful children and now a brand-new Habitat homeowner, but her road was never easy.  

“My journey has been a long one,” Shannon said. “I’ve been sober 8 years.” 

Shannon was eight months pregnant and engaged to her youngest child’s father when her world was turned upside down. Her plans for stability changed, and she found herself living in transitional housing with her family.  

After dealing with addiction and living in a homelessness shelter, Shannon realized she wanted to turn her life around and find stability for herself and her family.  

She first heard about Habitat’s homeownership program through her son’s preschool class at Jefferson Elementary School. Shannon attended a Homeowner Orientation session, but didn’t think the program was for her. She later attended a second orientation, and this time it sunk in. 

“Habitat gave me hope and the ability to be an independent homeowner,” Shannon said. 

Two weeks after being accepted into the Habitat Homeownership program, Shannon lost her job. She immediately called  Habitat’s Homeownership Success Manager to ask if she could put her application on pause. The Habitat team worked with Shannon while she continued to put her best foot forward , applying to dozens of jobs.  

Shannon landed a job as an authorization specialist at an orthopedic office within two months and was able to resume the homeownership program, but shortly after, she faced emergency spinal surgery. Nevertheless, Shannon persisted. She completed her sweat equity hours alongside her 17-year-old daughter, creating mother-daughter-bonding time that Shannon really enjoyed. 

Friends, family, and  Habitat staff gathered to celebrate at Shannon’s home dedication in early February. Shannon’s sons and daughter explored the house and backyard, eager to see the new 

place they would call home. 

Shannon is excited to have a gathering place where her extended family can come together for big family dinners. She is excited to have a yard where she can garden. But most of all, she is excited for the freedom and stability that homeownership will bring. 

“I have a place that people want to come to,” Shannon beamed. 

Shannon is forever grateful for the partnership with Tacoma Habitat that allowed her to pave her own path to stability through hard work and perseverance, no matter what obstacles were thrown her way. 

“This was an opportunity and blessing that I couldn’t let pass me by, you know, so I just stayed motivated.”