Jessica's Family Story
Although Jessica works full-time, she struggles with the high cost of living in El Paso County. She doesn’t want to leave Colorado, though—it’s where her two youngest children were born and are growing up, and she has family in the area.
Plus she wants to stay in the state for her youngest son, Mason, who is showing early signs of autism. He was born via emergency C-section, and the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck four times. Jessica says if the doctors had waited even one more day, neither she nor Mason likely would have survived.
“He came out blue!” she recalls. “Mason is truly a miracle that almost did not make it.”
With that challenging start to life, she adds, “I feel like he’s got a bit more things that I have to attend with him. He’s so young, so it’s hard to diagnose him yet with everything, but he’s special. Mason takes more time and attention than other children and keeps me and his big sister very busy caring for him.”
Colorado offers more resources for children with special needs than many states do, says Jessica, and that’s part of why she has chosen to stay here.
“This state is real big on helping families out, even with providing financially for kids that have special needs,” she explains. “My job allows me to move to 48 different states, but I want to stay in Colorado because of the special needs. A lot of people move here for that, so that’s something that I definitely think would benefit us in the future, once he’s old enough to be diagnosed.”
But the home she currently rents isn’t a place she can safely raise her children. She says the property owners “don’t do a lot of maintenance,” so her family struggles with black mold. They also hear frequent gunshots in their neighborhood, as well as fireworks.
And the time, effort, and money Jessica has devoted to improving the house don’t benefit her in the long run. “I kind of fixed up this house, and I’ve done the bathroom floor,” she says. “I’m putting all this work into a house that I don’t own.”
So being able to invest in a home that will belong to her is a welcome change.
“It’ll be nice to put money into something that is ours,” she says. “I’m excited to pay toward something that I can say I’m going to own in the future and pass on down to my kids.”
She’s even bought rose bushes for her rental property, because she loves to see the flowers and enjoys gardening. In her new Pikes Peak Habitat home, she also wants to raise produce such as pumpkins, squash, watermelons, and zucchini. “I’m looking forward to doing the backyard!” she enthuses. “I love yardwork.”
Her teenage daughter, Mikayla, has her own plans for the yard, especially because the family’s current lease has strict requirements. “We can’t have trampolines or swing sets in our yard, or pools—not even a kiddie pool,” says Jessica. So Mikayla is hoping for a trampoline and a dog that weighs more than 20 pounds!
Although she isn’t thrilled about switching schools, her mom points out that the new neighborhood has more girls her age. And they know, because they’ve thoroughly checked out The Ridge at Sand Creek!
“I’ve stalked the neighborhood,” Jessica laughs. “I have pictures of the neighborhood! When I found the location, I first went over there to see what the houses look like.” And she wanted to get a sense of the area. “I also want to know, Is it a good neighborhood? Is it a quiet neighborhood? I’ve even been there a little later at night, like 7:30, because I want a quiet neighborhood.”
Being able to build relationships with neighbors before she moves in—through Pikes Peak Habitat’s homeowner education classes and sweat equity—is also enhancing her sense of security in the new community.
“What I like is getting to know my neighbors, because that’s who looks out for you,” she notes. “If you’re out of town, they’re going to protect your house.”
Jessica also speaks highly of the requirement that she invest 200 hours of sweat equity in building her home and others in the community.
“I think it’s empowering, because then you get a sense of what it takes to build a home,” she explains. “I do think that it gives you some self-pride in building a home. You’re contributing to something that you’re going to live in and you’re going to own.”
Mikayla agrees. “I also think by doing sweat equity hours, it helps you to appreciate the house more.”
Jessica’s mom has a friend who is a Pikes Peak Habitat homeowner in the Woodmen Vistas subdivision of Colorado Springs. He has shared his thoughts on sweat equity with her, too. “He says, ‘I worked for it, and I did good.’ It was self-accomplishing,” says Jessica. “He achieved something he set his heart and mind to.”
She credits Pikes Peak Habitat not just with giving her the chance to help build her home—an experience she wishes everyone could have!—but with enabling her to buy a house in El Paso County.
“I’m ready to own something,” she says. “It’s my first home. I’ve never owned a home before, and without this opportunity, I don’t think I’d be able to. [With] the price of the market out here in the state where I want to stay, it’s not feasible.”
About the 4th George Hammond Build -- Honoring Laurel and Art Thorstensen
The George Hammond Award was created by the Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors in April 2018 to honor the legacy, extraordinary service, and outstanding contributions of longtime volunteer George Hammond.
The George Hammond Award honors individuals who, through their tireless service to Pikes Peak Habitat, have exhibited qualities of leadership, an unwavering belief in Habitat’s ministry, and a deep devotion and passion to serve the community and people of El Paso County, CO.
The 4th George Hammond Home will be constructed in The Ridge at Sand Creek development and dedicated in honor of Laurel and Art Thorstensen.