TOWANDA JOHNSON & TYRONE FORD
830 Stoll Street
Towanda Johnson and Tyrone Ford have been in desperate need of a home for their family. For years they have been essentially homeless while trying to raise Towanda’s three children, Maurice, 14, Tyrell, 10, and Rodnesha, 8. For the last three years they have been crammed into an apartment on the first floor of one of the Brooklyn townhouses. There is so little living space that Towanda and Tyrone have their bedroom in what would be the living room while the children sleep in a back room, the dining area, and in the one bedroom of this four room apartment.
One afternoon Towanda and Tyrone were sitting on the front steps of their apartment when Joe Allwein, President of the Board of Directors for Habitat and a Habitat volunteer Irene McDermott came by and asked them if they would be interested in homeownership. They were very excited at the possibility of owning a home with adequate space for their family and they applied immediately. Upon being accepted into the program, Towanda jumped at the chance to begin their “sweat equity” investment into the house. In fact, Towanda may have set a record for “sweat equity’ hours earned in the shortest amount of time.
Towanda and Tyrone are especially thrilled because their new home is across the street from their apartment, and they already have relationships with their neighbors. The children will be able to stay in the same schools and maintain their friendships.
They are still amazed that they will finally have a home of their own. “It has changed our lives and made it possible for my children to have a home and some space to call their own.” In the new four bedroom home, each of the boys will have a bedroom and Rodnesha will get to have a “girlie” room of her own. Their new home will allow the children to have security and a place to bring their friends—a place where they can be proud to live.
Towanda has boundless energy and excitement about her new life. She is energized about becoming involved in her “new” community and making it a better place to live. She has plans to start a community organization and to begin a youth program for 16-25 year olds to help them get their GED. She has great pride in her neighborhood and infuses others with her dreams. She wants to spread the word about Habitat, letting people know that it is possible to own your own home. She feels that “if more people knew that help is really there — that Habitat will help you through the application process — than people would be less hesitant to apply. People are afraid that they won’t make it through the process”. But she encourages everyone to apply. She is a great inspiration to her family and the people around her.
