For years, home didn’t feel like a place of peace for Brandy and Michael.  

With six boys under one roof, space was tight, and conditions were far from ideal. The house they’ve rented since 2020 was already run-down when they moved in, but over time, the challenges only grew. Rent increased year after year, maintenance issues went unresolved, and utility bills climbed due to poor insulation. Their house is also infested with mold, leading their family to wrestle with ongoing illness.   

Both Brandy and Michael built their lives in Bloomington. Neither of them came from families who owned homes or had escaped poverty, and for a long time, getting by felt like the only option. 

Everything began to shift when their perspective on life changed. Through their faith, they began to see a different future for themselves and their children.  

“It changed everything,” said Michael. “How we think, how we live, how we raise our kids. We realized we wanted more for them and for us.” 

That desire led them to Habitat for Humanity. 

At first, even that step felt uncertain. Brandy remembers showing up to an informational meeting with their baby after a stressful morning, only to learn that Michael needed to be present too. She left in tears and had to wait months for another opportunity to apply for a Habitat home.  

When the time came for Habitat to accept new applicants, they stepped out in faith.  

“We just prayed that if this is what’s meant for us, let it work from the beginning,” said Brandy. 

The journey towards homeownership wasn’t easy. Through Habitat’s program, Brandy and Michael faced challenges that required them to grow in ways they hadn’t expected. 

Money management challenged Brandy and Michael to be honest with themselves and disciplined in their spending habits.  

“It really opened our eyes,” Brandy said. “We had to change how we handled money completely.” 

That change wasn’t comfortable, but it was transformational. For the first time, they began saving consistently and planning for the future. 

During this time, they were committed to building their home, balancing work, parenting, and long Saturdays on the construction site. 

“There’s something different about working on your own house,” Michael said. “It means more.” 

Brandy and Michael realized that they weren’t just building a house, but the foundation for a new kind of life. 

“We’ve been homeless before,” Brandy shared, “so this is everything to us.” 

For the first time, Brandy and Michael will move into a space that is fully theirs.  

“I want it to feel calm,” Brandy said. “A place where we can rest, where our kids can grow, where we can just be.” 

Their vision doesn’t stop at move-in day. They’re already thinking about what comes and are dreaming of starting a landscaping or contracting business together and creating something lasting for their children. 

“We want to leave them more than what we had,” Michael said. “Not just a house but a future.” 

Brandy and Michael’s story is one of resilience and transformation, and because of the support of donors, families like theirs are given the opportunity to step out of survival and into stability. Every contribution helps build more than a home. It builds safety, dignity, and the chance for a new beginning. 

For Brandy and Michael, that impact is already clear: a home is no longer just a dream. It’s their reality and their foundation for a better future.