For Jessica, life has always been a balancing act between her work as a preschool account specialist and her role as a mom to three children: a 15-year-old son and two young daughters, ages 2 and 4. Add the constant stress of rental stability, and questions about school zoning, budgeting, and day-to-day life became hard to predict from year to year.
“Basically, outside of working and doing mom stuff, that’s really all I do. And because of how home prices have changed in Raleigh across my life it’s been a struggle for me trying to be a homeowner on my own,” Jessica says.
It was her mother who encouraged her to apply for Habitat Wake, a decision that set Jessica on a path toward stability and empowerment. “It really means a lot that I’ve made it this far in the program,” she says.
For Jessica, owning a home is about freedom and security for her children. “Once I get my home, I won’t have to worry about my children playing or running around too loudly for downstairs neighbors,” she explains.
“When you’re in an apartment, they can raise the rent every year, and there’s nothing you can do about it. Being able to have a mortgage that I know how much it’s going to be every month—I just really look forward to that.”
The process has also brought personal growth in unexpected ways. “When I first started out, I didn’t feel comfortable volunteering for the power tools,” Jessica admits. “Even being on the ladder, I used to say ‘nuh-uh.’ But this last weekend, I ended up having to do the metal work. I was nervous to get up on the ladder because I’m clumsy. But I did it, and it felt good.”
Along with her own sense of pride, Jessica’s children are witnessing the significance of her work. “My 15-year-old is really proud of me and has said so, which brought tears to my eyes,” she says, laughing. Her daughters, who attend preschool just around the corner from the Old Poole Place site, are also part of the excitement. “When we drive by, I’ll say, ‘Mommy helped build those!’ And they’ll say, ‘Mommy builds houses!’”
Jessica received the keys to her first home in February of 2026. Her journey is a reminder of perseverance, family pride, and the impact of achieving a dream through determination and support.
