When Keydra applied for a Beaches Habitat for Humanity home in 2015, she was working two jobs – one part-time and one full-time – as a CNA to cover her family's expenses. Money was tight for Keydra and her two children, Keyniah and Edgar.
Keydra learned about the new home construction program at Beaches Habitat through coworkers. "I heard such positive feedback from the experiences of others. They were so excited to share and excited to encourage me to pursue the process. A process that would be the change I was hoping to see in my life as well as my children's lives."
Keydra, Keyniah, and Edgar gathered with their neighbors to lift the first walls of their new home in the fall of 2016. Keydra made volunteering on the construction site part of her routine, using her days off to complete her sweat equity. She enjoyed learning and working alongside the volunteers who helped to build her home. "Being a participant was nothing short of an amazing, life-altering experience."
On June 3, 2017, Keydra used a pair of extra-large scissors to cut a bright blue ribbon strung across her front porch. It was part of the dedication celebration to mark the completion of construction. Shortly after, Keydra signed the mortgage papers for her new, affordable home. That's when the changes really started. No longer needing to work two jobs to pay her bills, Keydra now had time to pursue further education. "As I got settled in, I immediately went back to nursing school [and finished] at the top of my class as Valedictorian."
She also found the freedom to spend more time with her children, who have thrived in their new home.
Keyniah graduated from Fletcher High School last year. "I am so proud of how she finished high school, participating in a plethora of organizations and clubs[, and] being crowned Fletcher's 2021 Homecoming Queen… She is now at the University of North Florida studying Bio-Med, and planning for God to use her well."
Edgar is a high school sophomore with big dreams. "He aspires to become an architect and builder, designing and building the life he dreams to live one day." He's off to a great start, earning A-B Honor Roll in the first quarter. Keydra once told him "to start building his dream today and to never wait." She's so proud that he has taken those words seriously.
Reflecting on the process of becoming a homeowner and the past five years in their home, Keydra calls the experience "the beacon of light that my family and I needed[, putting] my kids and me on a pathway to living up to our fullest potential."
"To all the board members, supporters, volunteers, staff members, etc.: Thank you for being a part of the change that humanity needs to see. Thank you for being the change that our story needs, diverting our destiny toward the betterment of who we truly have the capability of becoming. Thank you for the programs put in place to shift the trajectory of our children's stories as well as our own... Thank you for a hand-up, and not a handout."
In 1970, Latriese’s parents moved from their home in Jacksonville Beach to a little bungalow in the Royal Palms neighborhood of Atlantic Beach. Her father was a truck driver who often traveled for work. Her mother wanted to live in a neighborhood where she felt safe while he was away.
Latriese grew up in that little bungalow. She loves the house and the neighborhood. She remembers how much she enjoyed riding her bike and going to the park just up the street. It was “the perfect place to raise a family.”
Over the years, after Latriese had started a family of her own, she continued to spend time at her parents’ home. Her children were practically raised there. As her parents aged, she and her kids pitched in to help. Latriese eventually moved back in as her aging parents needed more assistance.
Latriese became the owner of her childhood house when both of her parents passed. Before he died, Latriese’s dad had one wish for the home. He told her, “I want this to be a family home forever.”
Unfortunately, the house was showing signs of its age. Latriese did her best to keep up with maintenance, but as the little things started to add up, she became overwhelmed.
It came to a point where she was no longer comfortable inviting company to visit. Her electrical outlets shut off constantly. The plumbing in the kitchen had gotten to the point where they were using a bucket to drain it. And moisture from an incorrectly sized HVAC system was causing cracks in her ceiling that kept getting larger.
That was when Latriese’s son told her about the Senior Home Repair program at Beaches Habitat. She applied and now recalls the joy of getting the phone call to tell her she was approved. “I never in my life shout, but I was literally shouting on the phone, ‘Oh my God! Oh my God!’”
Not long after that call, the staff, AmeriCorps, and volunteer crew from Beaches Habitat got to work. Latriese and her children also spent time on the site helping with the repairs. She enjoyed getting to know the volunteers and laughing alongside them as they worked together on her home. Latriese enjoyed learning about construction and getting an up-close view of the repairs as the volunteers and staff completed them.
As the holidays approached, Latriese was looking forward to hosting holiday meals in her home again. She and her family made plans to honor her mother with their Thanksgiving dinner. They would each prepare a favorite dish from Latriese’s mother’s recipes and share it as a family. Latriese has saved a special set of her parents’ dishes that they’ll use for their holiday meals. And she’ll be able to plug in a Christmas tree without worrying about shorting out a circuit.
On a Saturday morning in November, Latriese and her family joined the Beaches Habitat crew and volunteers at the house. As she took the keys and walked into her newly renovated home, Latriese was stunned by the transformation. For the first time in a long time, her home will be a place for making memories again. Latriese is grateful that her children encouraged her not to give up on her house. Now that they can celebrate together in their family home, she hopes she has made her parents proud.
Beaches Habitat for Humanity’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Over the years, as the needs of our community and homeowners have changed, our offerings have grown and changed, too.
Having a safe and stable place to live is foundational to a brighter future. When you know that a home is yours, you can start making bigger plans for your future.
Making Higher Education a Priority
In 1998, volunteer and benefactor Herb Scheidel and his wife Miyuki took the first big step in ensuring that higher education would be a part of the future plans for children of Beaches Habitat homeowners.
The couple announced a $1.25 million donation to the University of North Florida (UNF) for an annual scholarship. The state of Florida added $750,000 with a matching grant, making it possible for qualified students living in a Beaches Habitat home to earn a bachelor’s degree at UNF.
The scholarship program was expanded to include Florida Community College of Jacksonville (now Florida State College or FSCJ) in 2005 with a $1 million endowment from the Scheidels. At FSCJ, the scholarship is open to children and adults, giving any household member a chance to earn a degree or certificate.
Incentivizing Achievement
Early in the scholarship program, it became evident that students needed more support to be accepted at UNF. The team at Beaches Habitat thought that providing guidance and motivation for students could help them to prepare for the demand of college admissions.
In response, Beaches Habitat started two programs funded by Herb and Miyuki Scheidel, the Jaguars Foundation, and local donors.
First, the Scheidel Prep Club was established in 1999 to provide incentives for academic success in middle and high school. Students receive cash awards for academic excellence and perfect attendance. Half of each award is presented to the student at a quarterly award ceremony, and the other half is deposited into a savings account. At the end of each school year, students who have saved their award are rewarded with a bonus. Students can also access tutoring, mentoring, test preparation, and other opportunities to prepare for higher education.
An Earlier Start
In 2001, Beaches Habitat began a partnership with the community centers led by the City of Atlantic Beach. Beaches Habitat staff and volunteers provide tutoring and homework help for children attending the City’s after-school programs. The students, primarily in kindergarten through fifth grade, also have access to enrichment programs offered through other collaborators, like a series of artists’ workshops presented by the Cathedral Arts Program last school year.
These programs together form the Education Program at Beaches Habitat. By pairing an affordable home with other opportunities for growth, Beaches Habitat families can truly thrive.
Thoughts from Education Program Participants
“…changing lives in a sustainable way depends on teaching people new skills … [Mr. Scheidel] was passionate about Habitat as a model that offered people dignity.”
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“It made a positive impact, not only in my life, but also in my parent’s life. It has inspired me to continuously pursue school and do well academically.”
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"It gave me something to look forward to at the end of each semester. The mentoring allowed me to have multiple adults in my life who cared about me. It gave me space to learn things about myself."
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"It made me feel that I was not alone and made me strive to do better."
Your gift today will help make Christmas merry for more local families. Thank you for your generosity!