Family News

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T’Wonda Saunders is a fighter—not in the aggressive, physical way, but in the sense that she will do anything and everything she can to fulfill a lifelong dream and provide for her daughter, Moné, the stability to have her own dreams. She fought for three years to earn her associate’s degree from Community College of Philadelphia. Now she is working in a job related to her desired career, while she works toward a degree in Psychology. T’Wonda has endured an apartment fire that landed her and her daughter in a shelter, and is now fighting the obstacles that come with having a low-income by working closely with Keystone Opportunity Center, living in transitional housing and becoming economically self-sufficient. T’Wonda and Moné were accepted in the Habitat program in June 2009, and will be moving into their new home at The Stitchery, well fought for, in early 2010.

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Patty Hunter (pictured at left with T' Wonda, volunteering a recent Habitat event) and her son, TJ, live in Sellersville, but they don’t know how long the home they’re living in will be there. The property owner is in the process of raising the current apartments and building new ones, which means Patty and TJ would need to vacate her home. With this knowledge looming, Patty applied for the homeownership program. The rest of Patty’s story is about faith. Patty was accepted into the program in 2007. She began her sweat equity hours, and then the cost of her decision made her change her mind. With no certainty of the future Habitat building sites, she decided to sacrifice the opportunity to move to a home in Emerald Hollow because TJ would need to change school districts shortly before he graduates from high school. Patty re-applied when she learned of The Stitchery, just two miles from her current home. She was accepted into the program in May 2009. Now, TJ doesn’t need to change school districts, and Patty will soon be a homeowner.

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Brandon Strouse is forging past the obstacles in his path to independence and homeownership. For someone in a wheelchair, finding a home that is accessible and affordable is a rare package. After a motorcycle accident left him paralyzed from the waist down, Brandon is working to rebuild his career and to find a new living space. He is living in his parents’ home in Perkasie; his bedroom is off of the kitchen, in a room that was the office. He is looking forward to having ADA features in his new home, such as lower countertops in the kitchen and space to turn his wheelchair around in the bathroom. Before his accident, Brandon was training to be a mechanic. Now, he is working for his grandparents, and looking for a new career. Brandon was accepted into the Habitat homeownership program in May 2009. He has been working to complete his sweat equity requirement, mostly in the ReStore, until the first floor units at the Stitchery are accessible. Construction is progressing from the top floor moving downward. He is eager to use his construction experience to work on the condo he will soon call home.

Family Resources

American Red Cross
7 Library Way
Levittown, PA 19055
(215) 949-1727
- Emergency needs.

Bucks County Opportunity Council
100 Doyle Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
(215) 345-8175
- Programs on self-sufficiency. Offices throughout Bucks County.

Credit Counseling Center
832 Second Street Pike – Office #1
Richboro, PA 18954
(215) 396-1880, Joan Reading
- A wonderful resource for credit counseling.

Kasey’s Closet
1259 South Easton Road
Warrington, PA 18976
(215) 343-8292
- To receive donations of furniture, clothing and food.

Family Committees

Family Selection Committee

• John Benincasa, chairperson
• Jim Brescia
• Nancy Buckner, HfHBC board member
• Valerie Gentile
• Elaine Jones
• Cindy Monroe
• Judy O’Leary
• Bill Tuszynski
• Susan Vincent
  

Family Support Committee

• Joyce Bauder
• Phyllis Boyer
• Jan Button
• Jerry Heisler
• Cindy Monroe
• Pat Petersman
• Stan Reinford
• Susan Vincent
• Karen Wallace

Committee Materials