By Gary Lloyd
CLAY — Ivory Prince and her 6-year-old daughter, Janiya, have received their greatest Christmas present yet.
On Thursday in the Winchester Hills subdivision in Clay, Prince received the key to her new home, an unveiling two weeks in the making and part of Greater Birmingham Habitat for Humanity’s “Home for the Holidays.”
“I’m very excited,” Prince said. “I feel blessed.”
Prince said moving into the home, which has tan siding and light brown brick on the front, the week before Christmas was “perfect timing.”
“It means a lot to me to be receiving a key to become a homeowner,” Prince said. “It’s been a cool process.”
Prince, born and raised in Birmingham, is a Parker High School and UAB graduate. She works at Crestline Early Learning Center and attends New Grace Church. Prince aspires to pursue a master’s degree in education and open her own daycare center. Janiya is a student at South Hampton Elementary School and enjoys riding her bike, swimming, skating and taking ballet.
“This means so much to Janiya and me,” Prince said. “I can’t wait for her to see that I’m able to make our dream come true.”
Volunteers are responsible for the majority of the work, including Prince, who put in what Habitat for Humanity calls “sweat equity.” All Habitat for Humanity homeowners help in the building of other people’s homes before they qualify to have their own build.
In May, 10 families received keys to their new homes at the Greater Birmingham Habitat for Humanity Eighth Annual Home Builders Blitz in the Winchester Hills subdivision in Clay.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.