Lakeisha Wilson, a dedicated school bus driver and mother of two young daughters, celebrated a milestone on Friday afternoon when she received the keys to her first home in Dayton. The house, built by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton, marks the culmination of more than 350 volunteer hours that Wilson contributed to the nonprofit.
Volunteer effort rewarded with homeownership
Wilson qualified for the home after logging over 350 hours of hands‑on work with Habitat for Humanity. The organization’s building projects are bolstered by community partners, including the CareSource Foundation and students from the construction trades program at Liberty High School. Together, these partners helped construct a safe, affordable residence for Wilson and her family.
Habitat’s focus on first‑time buyers
Norm Miozzi, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton, explained that the nonprofit prioritizes first‑time homebuyers. “Every Habitat Home Buyer is a first‑time home buyer,” Miozzi said, adding that the joy of seeing children explore a new, spacious house is unmatched. He noted that over the past three years the Dayton organization has assisted 289 families, building roughly ten homes each year in Montgomery County.
Community celebration
The key‑handing ceremony was attended by community members, partners, and Wilson’s two daughters. Her three‑year‑old immediately began decorating her new bedroom, using a teddy bear gifted by the CareSource Foundation. “The finish line. I made it,” Wilson said, expressing pride in her hard work. She also emphasized that the home is as much for her children as it is for herself, saying, “I worked hard for them; it’s theirs as much as it is mine.”
CareSource Foundation highlights stability
Ellen Miller, vice president of community relations at CareSource Foundation, presented the keys and spoke about the broader impact of stable homeownership. “It provides, it helps further education, for their workforce, for their health care,” Miller explained. “You can have a much better life if you have a stable place to lay your head at each night.” She praised Wilson’s ongoing commitment to supporting her family while serving as a school bus driver.
Looking ahead
Wilson and her daughters will spend the upcoming holiday season together in their new Dayton home, a tangible reminder of how volunteerism, community partnership, and faith in hard work can transform lives. The story underscores the importance of local nonprofits and businesses working side‑by‑side to create affordable housing opportunities for families in need.
Original reporting: WHIO-TV Dayton (local) — read the source article.
