North Omaha Woman Fulfills Dream, Pays Off Home After 25 Years

October 17, 2025

Homeowner La Donna, far left, and her family with Lacey Studnicka, chief program officer at Habitat Omaha, at a mortgage burning ceremony at the Bellevue Berry Farm.

Shortly after the birth of her third child, La Donna set three ambitious goals for herself: purchase a pickup truck, leave government assistance and own her own home.

She bought a like-new Ford 150 and secured two jobs to support her family without assistance. Her determination eventually led her to partner with Habitat for Humanity of Omaha, where she was approved to purchase a home.

Nearly 25 years later, the 54-year-old North Omaha native proudly made her final mortgage payment on her four-bedroom home on 29th Street.

Habitat homeowner La Donna speaks at a mortgage burning ceremony hosted by Habitat Omaha at the Bellevue Berry Farm.

“When I told my kids I had paid it off, they were so excited. ‘We’re proud of you, Mom,’” La Donna said. “For me, I did something big.”

In 2001, La Donna committed to building a future for her family while renting a duplex in North Omaha. She realized she was investing heavily in someone else’s property. “I’m paying all this money for somebody else’s mortgage,” La Donna recalled. “I need to get my own.”

She enrolled in Habitat Omaha’s Home Journey program, completing homeownership education classes and sweat equity requirements. Eventually, she selected a property along 29th Street to build her home.

“There were a lot of houses across the street, so I thought maybe there were some kids there for my kids to play with,” she said. At the time, La Donna’s children were 10, 5, and 4.

La Donna was hands-on from start to finish — helping design, choosing finishes, and building the house. The day she received the keys was emotional.

“I cried,” she said. “I was so excited when I moved in. I remember packing up my apartment and moving everything by myself. I was just so excited.”

The move also brought unexpected blessings. Several years later, her daughter befriended a neighbor with a young child. Over time, La Donna developed a deep friendship with the child’s mother and was asked to serve as her godmother. “For the past 19 years, I have been fortunate to witness that child grow into adulthood, becoming a cherished part of our family,” La Donna said. “Without Habitat for Humanity of Omaha and the opportunity to move into this home, we would have never met.”

Settling into her new home brought stability, community and a sense of ownership that transformed their lives. Owning a home changed everything for La Donna and her children.

“I think it showed them something we could have as our own,” she said.

Homeownership for La Donna represents more than four walls and a roof. It’s a symbol of perseverance, love and legacy. From setting goals to celebrating financial freedom nearly a quarter-century later, her journey is a testament to the power of determination and community support.

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