Mercedes and her two boys, Dakhari (right) and Diontrae (left), in front of their new home at Bluestem Prairie.

When you meet Mercedes for the first time, her soft smile and quiet, humble demeanor subtly camouflages an inner drive to overcome obstacles and earn achievements few can imagine.

One of those accomplishments is a new, slate-colored house with white trim in Habitat Omaha’s Bluestem Prairie development. Mercedes, a single mother of two, lives there with her two boys, Dakhari, 12, and Diontrae, 9.

Life for the family seems almost idyllic now—a well-kept house and front yard with a neatly decorated front porch and bedrooms that would make any pre-teen boy proud.

However, a few years ago, all this was a distant dream. That is until Mercedes’s push to provide her boys with a home overcame significant obstacles. “I always wanted to create a stable foundation for my boys,” Mercedes said, “Something that can be passed on to them.”

That is something many people don’t think about – until it’s too late. However, as a recent brain cancer survivor, Mercedes quickly focused on taking care of her family as a long-term goal.

Mercedes began her search for a home about two years ago. She was attending nursing school and working at Children’s Nebraska. She found a house but switched to part-time work to attend school. She
eventually lost the house to another buyer. “You can make a lot of money as a part-time nurse, but banks do not consider it ‘stable employment (for mortgages).’”

That is when Mercedes became acquainted with Habitat for Humanity of Omaha. Children’s Nebraska is a Habitat Omaha workforce housing partner. The program brings Habitat Omaha directly to a company’s
employees right at their workplace.

Habitat Omaha works with employees to improve or build their credit, reduce debt and create a plan that leads them to first-time homeownership. The program helps companies develop and maintain a diverse and talented workforce.

Mercedes began working toward her home and transitioning her boys from their 800-square-foot rental while staying close to their schools and extended family. Just like her rebound from cancer, Mercedes overcame again, earning a bachelor’s degree and a master’s in nursing education. She left Children’s and transitioned to becoming a nurse educator at Purdue University. And as if that isn’t enough, she’s in a doctoral program on nursing practice, too.

“Habitat really helped me going through the process of buying the home,” Mercedes said. “They went through my finances and spending habits. They’ve given me a lot of home ownership knowledge and I’ve met some great people, too. I’m overjoyed and thankful to be given the opportunity.”

Mercedes also learned a lot from her “sweat equity” as well. Habitat homeowners contribute hundreds of sweat equity hours to their homes, other Habitat homes and volunteer projects. “With the sweat equity, I learned a lot about tools, measurement and how to build things,” she said.

(Left) Mercedes contributing her “sweat equity” by installing a storm door on a home. (Right) Mercedes cutting the ribbon to her new home.