Stephanie Reeves

All we wanted was a yard and a dog.

As a single mom back in 2007, I was used to doing things on my own and I worked really hard to get my son and I a home. I also learned really quickly that as a homeowner, you have to stand up for yourself and work to make your home what you want it to be.

Luckily, I purchased my home through WCDA and they helped me every step of the way. Home ownership isn’t always easy. There is insurance, payments and, of course, the upkeep.

Oh, the upkeep.

When I bought the house, our “yard” consisted of a sandlot overgrown with gout weeds. I remember driving past the homes of people in other neighborhoods and we saw front yards filled with grass, flowers and trees. I promised my son that, one day, we would have one of our own.

It took some time, but eventually, together, we made that happen. We moved rocks, planted grass, dug a pond and placed a fence around the yard.

It’s a lot of work, but so worth it. I love it. I love the freedom. Home-ownership has given me the ability to stand on my own two feet and it has helped me grow in so many ways as a single mom. Years after we got the house, my son came home after being away and told me that the “coolest” thing I ever did for him was buy a house so he could have his own bedroom.

Today, my family is much larger and we get to do things with my home that you cannot do when you rent. We’ve taken my home from three bedrooms to four and we’ve added goldfish to our pond. I have beautiful trees that bear fruit and plants as well. We even put in a fire pit. My favorite place to be is on our back porch. My husband will tell people that “this is her peaceful place, her sanctuary” and it truly is. It’s my favorite place and when I look at it all, I can tell myself that “we built this.”

I appreciate WCDA for helping me through the times of struggle and hardship. I could not have done this without their help.

My boy has a yard and a dog. This home is ours.