Building Houses, Building Hope, Building Philadelphia.

Richele Jackson never dreamed that she would become a homeowner…

Richelle's entire family grew up in housing projects, and she never had any reason to think her life would be any different. Still, she believed in a life outside the projects and wanted more for her children and herslef.

She works full-time as a cook manager for the school district of Philadelphia and juggles the stress of being a single parent to Iviana (10) and Jasha (3). After meeting a Habitat Philadelphia homeowner through her job who encouraged her to apply, Richelle was accepted and earned her zero-interest mortgage through 350 hours of sweat equity.

As Richelle said herself, if you had told her that one day she would become a homeowner, she would have laughed.

Today she is the proud homeowner of a home on Wilt Street in North Philadelphia, and her daughter's have their own place where they can grow and thrive. She is the first person in her family to ever own a home.

More than walls and a roof overhead, this home means so much more to Richelle. She recently got a promotion at work, and is enrolled in college, where she is earning all A's in her classes. As she says,

"Because of Habitat, I am a better mother. I have bigger hopes and dreams for myself and my children - I'm back in school, I'm a stronger person. I now think, what MORE can I do with my life?"