LaTravia Cartwright didn’t take no for an answer when her application to Knoxville Habitat for Humanity was denied in September 2009 as a result of having too much debt. Because Habitat for Humanity sells its homes with a 0% interest loan, homeowners must meet income and debt criteria before being approved.

Setting a good example for her two sons is what drives Crystal Tucker.

And it will be a good “lesson learned” for all of  them when Crystal and her sons, Deondre, 15, and Jaden, 8, move out of their two-bedroom duplex and into their new home, which will be built by Wells Fargo Home Advisors in Knoxville Habitat for Humanity’s seven-house blitz build April 9 to 16^th, 2011.

Joyce Turner is ready to live in a nice, new home of her own.

She currently rents a home in the Parkridge neighborhood in East Knoxville where she has lived for the past five years. Her grandson Jordan, a sophomore at Austin East High School, lives with her.

The high cost of her utilities and structural problems with the rental house spurred Joyce to finally apply to own her own home through Knoxville Habitat for Humanity.

When Jamesena Davis applied for a traditional mortgage loan several years ago, the interest rate was so high she couldn’t really afford to buy a home of her own.

Fast forward four years, and now the mother and grandmother will soon own a 4-bedroom home with a monthly mortgage that costs considerably less than the $725 in rent she pays for her 3-bedroom home.

It was exactly one year ago, in April 2010, when Maurice Johnson applied to be a homeowner with Knoxville Habitat for Humanity. On April 9, 2011, he will raise the walls on the new home he is building in partnership with The University of Tennessee Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils as part of Habitat’s 2011 multi-house blitz build.

As a single father, Maurice’s motivation to apply to Habitat was to have a place of his own to share with his two children, daughter Heaven (5), and son Ja’den (4), both of whom he has primary custody.

Thanks to the following individuals for their generous gifts in honor of or in memory of a loved one from December 1, 2010 to March 30, 2011. If you would like to make an honor or memory gift, please visit our secure donation page.

GIFTS IN MEMORY:

In memory of Lauretta M. Bigelow:

by Tim & Janet B. Bigelow

In memory of Marie Chapman:

by Lou E. Cox

In memory of Betsy Coffey:

Show your love of Habitat for Humanity by pre-ordering an official Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee specialty license plate. In order for the plates to be produced, we need to have 1,000 people pre-order a plate by June 2012. Help spread awareness of Habitat for Humanity while raising funds for Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee, a statewide organization that supports and promotes the 51 Habitat for Humanity affiliates throughout Tennessee, including KHFH.

By now you may have seen Knoxville Habitat for Humanity's new advertising campaign that is currently running on local television stations. There are three versions of the ad and each is built around the theme "I build because..." and encourages Habitat homeowners, volunteers and donors to share their personal reasons for "building" with Knoxville Habitat for Humanity.

Perhaps you build for families.

Perhaps you build for community.

Perhaps you build for redemption.

Or maybe you build for yourself.

Whirlpool Corporation, an international company which also operates a call center in Knoxville, shares Habitat for Humanity’s belief that every family deserves a home, a safe place to put down roots and nurture a hopeful future. Since 1999, Whirlpool Corporation has contributed more than $34 million in donations and cash worldwide to support Habitat’s mission to eliminate poverty housing.

Yale Locks & Hardware, an ASSA ABLOY Group company, celebrated a major milestone in its 10-year, $11 million partnership with Habitat for Humanity, with the installation of the 500,000^th lockset the company has provided for Habitat houses primarily across the United States. The lockset was installed in partnership with Loudon County Habitat for Humanity and a Loudon County, Tenn., Habitat homeowner.