Although homeownership may seem like a near-impossible task, Shantel proves that through persistence and motivation, her goal of owning her own home is almost complete. Shantel shows time and time again that she is never one to give less than her all, whether that is being a mother to her daughter, advancing in her career, or giving back to this community.

Shantel first heard of the Habitat for Humanity partnership program through her mother, who is close to paying off her own Habitat home, a journey which started 16 years ago. Shantel and her daughter currently share a bedroom in a two-bedroom apartment with a roommate, but Shantel wants to invest more in her daughter’s future and feels that a home is a major step in the right direction. Originally, Shantel could not qualify for a Habitat for Humanity program, but she put in the necessary time and effort to qualify for the program.

Shantel sees the value in giving back to this community in speaking for StepUp Wilmington, which is a non-profit that focuses on teaching employment skills necessary for the success of employees. Shantel graduated from StepUp Wilmington, and has personally seen her own career growth due to this program, and wants to help others be successful in their jobs as well. Shantel works at a local customer service call center and is advancing within the company, leading to more opportunities for herself and her daughter. Shantel says that her daughter is her biggest inspiration and motivation for owning her own home and that her daughter is her accountability partner in making sure housing deadlines are met and goals are achieved. Shantel wants her daughter to be safe and successful and is striving for homeownership to give her daughter the best life that she can. Her amazing story is one of persistence and hard work, and Shantel is partnering with Habitat to invest in her family’s future and build a stable and stronger tomorrow.