Tanya’s Story: A Home Worth Holding On To

Tanya’s life has been a journey marked by transformation, perseverance, and deep love for her family. A mother of two boys, Christopher and DJ, she made the life-changing decision to get clean and sober in 2013, a decision fueled by her desire to give her sons a better life.

Christopher, now 17, stood by her side through some of the toughest times, including years of homelessness. Together, they endured shelters, transitional programs, and uncertainty. When DJ was born, Tanya knew even more clearly that she needed a change, for them and for herself.

In 2016, she moved her family to Tennessee to be closer to her parents and start fresh. For a time, they lived in her parents’ home while Tanya worked hard to secure a low-income apartment. But in her heart, she still held onto one dream: a place of her own.

With encouragement from her mother, Tanya applied to Habitat for Humanity of Sumner County. What felt like an impossible dream began to take shape.

“Habitat has given me hope and encouragement,” she says. “For the first time, I feel like I’ve reached a goal I thought I’d never achieve.”

This new home represents more than stability, it’s a symbol of Tanya’s transformation. A place where her boys will always have a safe space to return to, where holiday traditions will bloom, and where family memories will be built with love.

“I can finally give my kids what they deserve,” she shares. “This home is our future. It’s everything I’ve prayed for.”

Tanya’s story reminds us that with faith, hard work, and a community that cares, even the most distant dreams can be realized.