Brandy

When Everything Went Wrong, the Right Opportunity Finally Came 

North Omaha Mom Finds a Place for Her Family to Call Home   

Nehemiah didn’t walk into the house — he sprinted. He raced from room to room, grinning widely and taking in the space like it was built just for him. For Brandy, watching her son light up was more than a sweet moment — it was proof that after years of setbacks, her family was finally home. 

A few years ago, Brandy was ready to purchase her first home when she hit a few bumps in the road. She was close to paying off her car loan when she was involved in an accident. The next year, her new car was destroyed when a tree fell on it during a storm. 

“Stuff just kept happening,” the North Omaha native said. “It must not be time right now.” 

But Brandy, who was living with her mom, was motivated. Her son, Nehemiah, often asked his mom when they would get a house of their own. 

Then, Habitat for Humanity of Omaha hosted a town hall for the Urban League of Nebraska Young Professionals. Brandy, who works for the organization, attended the event. 

“Initially, I didn’t know too much about Habitat Omaha,” she said. “I learned about the process that I would go through to purchase a home, and it made sense.” 

Brandy had watched her mother buy a home on her own only four years before. “I saw all the stuff that she went through, even with searching for her house, getting discouraged, and nearly giving up before she finally did find her house.” 

Habitat Omaha provided Brandy with the Home Journey Program, which offers financial education, affordable mortgage loans and community resources to help hardworking people buy homes and build a lasting foundation for future generations. 

“I felt like it was a good opportunity for me as a first-time homebuyer who doesn’t know anything about buying or taking care of a home,” Brandy said. 

Habitat Omaha’s housing counselors helped Brandy find resources to pay down her debt. This support made homeownership possible when it might not have been otherwise.  

Three months later, she completed her requirements and purchased a white and brown four-bedroom house not far from her son’s school in North Omaha.  

For Brandy, homeownership isn’t just a milestone — it’s a promise she kept for Nehemiah. 

“From the time that he was born, I’ve moved every year and not necessarily because I wanted to move,” she said. “I’ve been back and forth between renting a house or an apartment. I’ve always wanted that house that my son can grow up in and we don’t have to move every year.”