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Taylor Mathis

Breaking a Generational Curse

Accepted into Program: Dec 1, 2022

Job: Assistant Manager

Neighborhood: Leadership Point

When Taylor tells her story, the words strength, survival and miracle come to mind. She was 13-years old when her father died, her mother fell apart and took to the streets, and her older sister ran away with a boyfriend.
Taylor and her two younger brothers, 10 and 3, ended up in foster care for three years, after which they went to live with an aunt. Instead of being in a loving, family situation, Taylor recalls vividly how bad it was. She “wanted out” at 16, and moved between Arizona, Ohio, and then Florida, trying to figure out what profession to pursue and what college courses to take. But, without parents for guidance, Taylor struggled to make choices.
She began “couch-surfing,” moving from one friend’s home to another, but still she dreamed of bringing her two brothers from Ohio to Florida so they could all be together. After Taylor was able to bring her younger brother here, she began studying medical billing and coding, got a degree, and interned in the medical field.
With all that inner strength, she still credits God for getting her through those times and putting her on a new path. That path includes the job she has held for the past two years as a digital banker and a place to live, made affordable with a roommate.
Though that apartment ended her couch-surfing days, it’s still not suitable for Taylor, her brother, and the dog because they all share a bedroom. So, when an employee told her about Habitat Seminole-Apopka, Taylor’s curiosity was piqued. She immediately enrolled in our online Financial Academy to build skills for better money management and future homeownership. Before long, she applied and was accepted into our Homebuyer Program, and a new future began to take shape.
Filled with gratitude for the opportunity to buy a home, Taylor is now saving money and can’t wait to reach 150 hours of her sweat-equity requirement, which is the threshold for selecting a lot for her future home.
Taylor’s brother may enter the Navy or college, and big sister wants him to have a home when he comes back. A “generational curse,” as the family calls it, is about to be broken, and Taylor is at peace knowing she will never again be homeless. A new family legacy of homeownership and possibilities has begun.
If that’s not the definition of strength, survival, and a miracle…what is?

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