Habitat for Humanity homeowner pays off mortgage

DANVILLE — Paying off a mortgage is a big feat for anyone. Sunday it was cause for celebration for one Habitat for Humanity homeowner.

Stephanie Howard has been paying her mortgage for 15 years. She moved into her home in 2002. Since then, she’s slowly made payment after payment, even when tragedy struck. She reunited with the friends, family and volunteers who helped make it happen.

Take a look around Stephanie Howard’s house and you see inspiration everywhere. On the walls are words she lives by.

“I try my best to take care of where I live because I appreciate it,” Howard said. “Because it could be somebody else.”

17-years ago Howard was a married mother of five working at Wal-Mart. Each month, a chunk of her paycheck went to rent. But every time she paid the bill, she knew her money could go further elsewhere.

“It was always my goal and my dream to own my own home,” Howard said. “Because I felt as though, if I was working, I wanted to see what I was working for. Not just working.”

One day, she picked up an application for Habitat for Humanity. After months of working, her dream finally came true. Howard and her husband moved in and raised their kids. Each child eventually went off to college, but Howard never expected her husband would leave too.

“He died from cancer,” Howard said. “He had a lot of health issues.”

Her husband, Charles, passed away in 2010. Through the pain, Howard kept up with the house; the last place he lived.

“I feel like a part of his spirit is still here.”

Seven years later, Howard paid off her $40,000 mortgage in full.

“I’m still trying to really soak in that my home is purchased,” Howard said. “I’m 51 and to have a house purchased at that age, I think it’s a blessing.”

Her friends, family and Habitat organizers came together for a celebration of the woman whose door is always open.

“It just speaks testament to how when you work for things that you want, eventually in the end, you’re going to come out on top,” Demetrius Howard, her son, said.

And whose life inspires them all.

“I’m sad my father’s not here to see it but, he’s looking down and he’s enjoying the moment so I’m very happy for her.”

Howard says the money she used to spend on her mortgage every month will now go toward savings.

Source: Habitat for Humanity homeowner pays off mortgage – Story