Why I’m Dedicated to Affordable Housing

By Penny Rayfield, Habitat Lakeside family services manager 

The word “home” has always had a special meaning for me. I grew up moving often, from state to state and attending 10 different schools before 6th grade. Having a place to call home was not a concept I was familiar with, so homeownership seemed like something that was out of reach. 

When I had a family of my own, providing a home was an important goal. I was fortunate to meet a real estate agent who helped us find and purchase our first home. Her commitment to finding an affordable, decent home for our family changed our lives. It also showed me the financial benefits of homeownership that I never knew existed. This sparked a desire in me to help others experience the benefits of homeownership, so I became a real estate agent. It was fulfilling to have a career that gave me a chance to help others achieve something I was passionate about – owning their own home. 

A year ago, I was able to join an organization that is also passionate about homeownership. Habitat for Humanity Lakeside is dedicated to ensuring everyone in Sheboygan County has a decent place to live and I am blessed to be part of this mission.  

I meet and work with future homebuyers through the application process, homeownership preparation, and watch their excitement and growth as they work through our homebuyer program. They embrace the education and volunteer requirements involved as they prepare for home ownership not with complaints but hope and excitement as they work to build not only their future home but others. They put in a lot of hard work over the 18 to 24 months it takes to purchase their home. 

Their resilience is inspiring. I think the hardest part for me is the home visits where we witness firsthand the conditions these families live in. Two of our current families have lived in their apartments for more than five years as rent prices continue to increase. They live with dangerous conditions such as broken windows, entrances that are unsafe and sometimes unusable, and electric wiring so old and overloaded that they must unplug one appliance to use another. At one home, the adult won’t let her children turn on a light switch for fear they will receive an electric shock.  

Another family deals with cold in the winter as their 30-plus-year-old furnace works when it wants to. One future homeowner told me the plumbing in her apartment is so bad that it takes 24 hours for the bathtub to drain. She’s looking forward to her children enjoying a hot bath more often.
 
I have heard that people think Habitat for Humanity gives homes away, but that is far from the truth. Our families not only endure living conditions most of us have never had to experience, but they also step up and do the extra work required to purchase a Habitat home. Unlike other homebuyers, they don’t get to shop for their “dream home” or even choose the location or style. All they want is a decent, affordable home for themselves, their children, and future generations.  

Future Habitat Lakeside homeowner Kewanna Ashford with her children on the site of their new home.