MEET LYBIA
 
Lybia is a compassionate special education classroom assistant who enjoys baking, traveling, eating, reading, listening to music, taking photographs, and, above all, spending time with family and friends.

Having grown up on the west side of Chicago in K-Town, Lybia fondly remembers living close to family, spending a lot of time together and laughing endlessly. She plans to grow those memories in her new home by hosting monthly gatherings for her loved ones. And though her 18-year-old son Parish will soon leave to venture out on his own, Lybia beams with pride at being able to provide him, and his two older brothers, a safe and happy place to return if ever they need it.

Although Lybia admits she is nervous about the building process in its entirety, she is excited about the new challenge of learning to build and care for her own home. She says, With Habitat, it’s joy because I’m actually helping to build the house from start to finish. I'll help raise the first walls and put on the final coat of paint. It’s going to be a full learning process, and when it's all done, I'll be able to fill the walls with family photos, create a signature wall to make it my own, and just feel at peace."

Lybia’s family has been her entire world for a very long time and they serve as her primary motivation for becoming a Habitat homeowner. However, Lybia is also excited about the opportunity to do something special for herself, to claim ownership and pride in something that is all hers. Lybia declares, “I’m finally ready to do this. I’ve thought about it for years now. I’m ready to have something of my own!”

 
 

ABOUT OUR PROGRAM

Habitat Chicago partners with hard-working families who do not qualify for typical loans to become homeowners. Qualifying families meet three basic criteria:

1) demonstrate a need for decent housing (currently living in unsafe or overcrowded conditions or are severely rent-burdened).
2) are willing to partner in our program by completing 250-350 volunteer hours and attending our free homebuyer readiness training classes.
3) have the ability to purchase their home with an affordable mortgage.

Qualifying families enter the program as a cohort, designed to provide built-in support for navigating the process of homeownership as a first-time buyer. It can take 12-18 months to complete the program. At the end of the program, members of the cohorts become neighbors in one of our focus neighborhoods, living in healthy and sustainable homes built by themselves, volunteers, and Habitat construction staff.