Saturday, November 16, 2019, will always be a groundbreaking day for Deirdre Jones – the beginning of her final journey to home ownership with Habitat for Humanity of Bloomington.

It’s been a long time coming. “Habitat gives me a chance to not only have a decent place to live, but one that I can truly call my own,” Deirdre says.

Jones’ story is similar to other families that have been in the program. She needed a new home after her long-time landlady sold the property where she had been living.  She wasn’t able to find anything that she could afford, let alone find another landlord who would rent to her and her three cats.  “All of them were getting older, and I really didn’t want to have to give them up in order to find another place,” according to Jones.

So, she applied to Habitat and was thrilled to be accepted. Says Deirdre, “A Habitat home is not a handout. I’ll have a mortgage I can afford and count on to stay the same every month – not jump at the whim of a landlord,” she added.

The official home sponsor of her house is also special to her. The Bloomington Habitat ReStore and its staff and many volunteers – including Deirdre – worked hard to earn store proceeds to build her home. Habitat classes have taught her how to be a good homeowner and a part of the community in which she will soon be living.

“I’m thankful each day for the Habitat program that does not discriminate against who you are and the things you cannot change in your life,” Deirdre adds.

“Like all the other Habitat partner families, I’ve worked hard for this and take the trust Habitat has placed in me very seriously.”

The Jones family home is sponsored by the Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County ReStore.