Building Houses, Building Hope, Building Philadelphia.

Tasha Underwood was accepted into Habitat Philadelphia’s homeownership program in August 2010. At the time, she had been living in a local shelter, People’s Emergency Center, for two and a half years with her youngest daughter, Tiara. “It was rough in the beginning – especially for my daughter, who wasn’t used to living in a small room,” Tasha admits, “I had experienced living in cramped quarters. I went to prison for two years for drug possession and distribution, and it completely changed my life.”

When Tasha describes her childhood, it’s incredible to think of the obstacles she has overcome to get to where she is today. Nobody Tasha knew went to college, drugs were prevelant in her neighborhood, and she dropped out of school in 6th grade. But something she did have as a child was a passion and a gift for singing.

When she was a little girl, her mother brought her to a Little Mrs. America competition where she was one of 10 finalists but ultimately lost. She was devastated when she didn’t win, but knew from then on that she wanted to be a singer. Since then, Tasha has entered a few local singing competitions in Philadelphia, and has won 1st place in every single one. “Singing is my number one passion. I’d love to one day build a studio in my Habitat home!”

Tasha was released from prison on March 27, 2001 and was finally able to reconnect with her two daughters: Ciara, now 23 and working full time at Resources for Human Development (RHD), a local nonprofit, and Tiara, now 17. It was difficult for Tasha to find work with a criminal record. Through Welfare to Work, Tasha finally got a part time job at Jefferson University Hospital as a custodian.

Tasha was determined to get a permanent position that would pay enough for and her daughter to move out of the shelter. “I worked hard and wouldn’t leave. Every time the manager, Mr. Burton, saw me I was working. I never took a break- I was cleaning places that had never been clean!” Tasha was soon offered a job as a custodian for $19 an hour. “It’s showing what God can do when you’re faithful, and you work hard.”  In addition to her job at Jefferson, Tasha got a gig singing part time at Warm Daddys, a lounge in Philadelphia.

Tasha was thrilled to partner with Habitat Philadelphia and begin working on her 350 hours of sweat equity in September 2010. “I’m so looking forward to working- not just for myself, but working with and for other people in the program.Being able to be part of the process of building something, seeing that this is something I built with my own hands.”

Most recently, Tasha used her talent for singing at Habitat Philadelphia's second annual Building HOPE Luncheon, where she brought down the house with her rendition of "I am Changing" from the movie Dreamgirls. Tasha's singing helped inspire Luncheon guests to raise over $167,000 for Habitat Philadelphia's 2011 partner families!

Tasha is most thrilled about being able to continue providing a secure and stable environment for her family, especially her youngest daughter, Tiara. Since Tasha has saved enough money to rent a house, and they’ve started working on their 350 hours of sweat equity, Tiara’s happier and her performance at school has improved.

“I don’t think you all know how grateful I am for this. It doesn’t matter where my Habitat home is going to be, it’s going to be MINE. It’s going to be beautiful!”