In honor of January being National Mentor Appreciation Month, we wanted to spotlight one of our homebuyer mentors, Lynn Tuttle, for the continuous dedication and commitment she has shown toward our future homebuyers and our entire Habitat community.
Who are our Homebuyer Mentors?
At Habitat for Humanity Seminole-Apopka, we are dedicated to providing our future homebuyers with as many resources as possible to help them succeed in their homebuying journey and in life. One of our resources is matching them with a mentor who can help them by being a friend when they need, opening doors to more resources, and encouraging them through the homebuyer process. The mentor-to-homebuyer relationship is invaluable, helping many individuals stay on track and motivated while working towards achieving their dreams.
Introducing Lynn Tuttle
Lynn has been volunteering with Habitat for Humanity Seminole-Apopka for ten years, and she has served as a mentor for four homebuyers over the past three years. She was first introduced to volunteering with Habitat at her previous job, and she continued her Habitat volunteer efforts after moving on from that position. Aside from volunteering on the build site and mentoring future homebuyers, Lynn also helps our Homebuyer Services Department with technological system integration and file organization.
Because of her role as Vice President and Residential Mortgage Operations Manager at One Florida Bank, Lynn provides both her mentees and Habitat workers with a vast range of banking and mortgage knowledge. While her mentees are in our homebuyer program, Lynn sends them links to resources, such as prerecorded trainings teaching them various financial and homeowner topics, which she has access to through the company she works for. Lynn also worked with her coworkers to create a mortgage system just for Habitat Homebuyers, so the process would be smoother when we have a homebuyer we need a mortgage for.
While mentoring, Lynn tries to check in with her mentee every week to help keep them motivated and on track to buy their home. Although Lynn does not live in the Orlando area, she also makes sure she is able to meet her mentees face-to-face at least once, whether that means meeting them for coffee or lunch, or hosting them at her son’s home located close to Orlando. Three of her four mentees have joined her and her family at her son’s house. She recalled, “One mentee came over and we all cooked breakfast together, and another one came with her kids and played with the dogs, and we all just spent time in a really calm and comfortable atmosphere.” She believes this time is important because “it lets them know they are not alone, and it gives them a sense of trust and understanding that we are here for them.”
Once her mentees have completed the program, Lynn still tries to stay connected with them, contacting them on major holidays, and especially on Mother’s Day. She says, “Whether they care or not, I care and I want them to know I am thinking about them.” She encourages them to stay active members of their local community and the Habitat community, and she loves when she sees her past mentees attending Habitat events and supporting the next generation of future homebuyers.
“Everything about Habitat has enhanced my life and I am so proud to say I am a part of that family in any capacity I can be.”
Lynn Tuttle, Habitat for Humanity Seminole-Apopka Homebuyer Mentor
A Rewarding Responsibility
When individuals sign up to become a mentor for our homebuyers, they sign an agreement that commits them to contact their mentee at least once a month and help to support them through their homebuying journey. Lynn says, “A lot of the mentees are first generation homeowners, so it’s about becoming a friend, becoming a confidant, and getting to know them, what they need, and what helps them thrive.”
Lynn values the mentor relationship and the responsibility that comes with the role. She reflected on the position, saying, “[mentoring] has caused me to be very responsible and self-aware that I hold up my end of the commitment because these folks have committed to this journey and I need to commit to helping them get through that journey.”
Aside from encouraging her mentees to use all the resources we offer, Lynn also believes it is her responsibility to provide them with any other resources she has access to, to help them excel in the Habitat program and beyond. She aims to be a friend to her mentees, helping them to grow their network and their knowledge, because “they are truly amazing souls; they just need that hand up.”
While reflecting on her mentorships, Lynn said mentoring has been a humbling role, giving her more perspective on the appreciation she has for her own life and how she can help others with the knowledge, skills, and resources she has. She has loved being a mentor for Habitat’s homebuyers, and she says she can’t wait to meet her next mentee.
If you would like to become a mentor for our next generation of homebuyers, contact Idalia Nunez, Direct of Programs at [email protected].
If you are interested in applying to be a homebuyer visit our application page here, and if you would like to learn more about the public resources we offer, free of charge, visit our programs page here.
