Latasha’s journey to homeownership wasn’t easy, but it’s a story marked by resilience, growth, and unwavering faith.

She first learned about Habitat while living at a transitional shelter for women and children called The Rise.

“I was there temporarily,” she said. “I first applied to Habitat in 2022, but I was rejected because of some financial things I needed to work on. I reapplied in 2024 and that’s when I got accepted.”

Before that, Latasha’s housing situation had been unstable. She had rented homes in multiple states, but after moving to Bloomington to receive proper care for an injury, her circumstances became more difficult.

“I ended up in a relationship that became abusive,” she shared. “I didn’t have my family nearby, and I didn’t know anyone. But someone told me about a shelter, and that’s how I found my way to The Rise.”

From there, she began rebuilding.

As a single mother of five, Latasha has faced significant challenges.

“The biggest challenge has been raising my family on my own,” she said. “There were a lot of bills, and sometimes my kids’ behavior caused us to have to move. That meant starting over again and again.”

Despite those setbacks, she kept going.

“Now, having this opportunity to become a homeowner, and it means everything. It shows me how far I’ve come.”

Her journey has also included deep personal loss. After her daughter passed away last year, Latasha stepped into a new role as caregiver for her granddaughter.

“That’s my responsibility now,” she said. “And having a stable home means she’ll finally have consistency.”

For Latasha, the moment everything changed came unexpectedly.“I got a call saying Habitat had been trying to reach me,” she said. “When I found out I was accepted, it was overwhelming. I had been rejected before, and now I was finally here.”

While construction hours weren’t accessible due to her injury, Latasha found other ways to stay involved in volunteering at the ReStore and helping in the office, but what Latasha found the most impactful were the homeownership classes.

“They helped me with accountability,” she said. “Especially with money management and learning the difference between needs and wants. That was really important for me.”

Before her injury, Latasha owned and operated her own nail business. Now, she dreams of rebuilding that part of her life.

“I want to get back into the nail business,” she said. “Maybe even open the first nail supply store here in Bloomington, or partner with a foot specialist to offer specialized care.”

More than anything, she’s looking forward to creating a stable, welcoming home for her family.

“I want to bless my home,” she said. “I want it to be a place where my family can gather and where my granddaughter has her own consistent space.”

Throughout this journey, Latasha’s definition of home has changed.

“It means stability,” she said. “It means having a place where my family can come together. A place where we don’t have to keep moving.”

Latasha hopes her story encourages others who are walking through difficult seasons.

“I want to be an inspiration to someone,” she said. “Someone dealing with abuse, or disability, or feeling like life has taken things from them.”

Her message is simple:

“Don’t give up. Keep fighting. Keep applying. God will make a way for you.”