Transform Chattanooga

We wrote about the partnership between Habitat and the Chattanooga Housing Authority that helped Allie become a homeowner in a previous post, but here is more about her story.

“The Lord has truly blessed me,” says Allie Cisco.  “I never thought that I would have a place of my own.”  Life has not always been easy for Allie, but, through the ministry of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga, and blessings from God above, brighter days are ahead for Allie and her three children.

As a child, Allie took on more responsibility than one should expect.  Her mother worked evenings, leaving her alone to care for her two younger brothers.  “It made me not want to have children because I didn’t want to leave them home alone.”  At the age of 18, however, Allie had her first child.  Though determined to continue her education after graduating from high school, Allie quickly realized that working, going to college and taking care of a child was just too much.

Not many months later, Allie’s father became seriously ill and she decided to move in with him to not only ensure that he received his daily medications, but to also provide him with a clean home and healthy meals.  Allie found comfort in caring for her dad since he truly had been the only stabilizing force in her life while growing up.  After a period of time, Allie’s siblings left their mother’s home and also moved in with their father.  Since he would no longer be living alone, Allie felt comfortable trying to make it on her own once again.  Despite being several months pregnant and having a toddler in tow, Allie determinedly stood in line at the Section 8 housing office for over 7 hours in order to receive her housing voucher.  Tragically, only a few short months later, Allie’s father passed away.  This fact weighs heavily on Allie, always wondering had she continued living with and caring for her father, would he have survived his illness?

Allie has lived in an apartment for the past two years with her three children.  While being able to make it on her own is satisfying, she says it is a constant battle to get the landlord to provide the needed maintenance on their apartment.  The most serious issue is a recurring sewage backup in her bathroom.  “My children can’t even take baths in our own apartment for fear the water will back up.”  The majority of her lighting fixtures do not work forcing her to use one lamp in the apartment and her utility bills are high due to inefficient wall heating units and the lack of insulation.  “During the winter, I constantly have to watch the kids so they don’t burn themselves on the heaters.”

Since becoming a Habitat Partner Family, Allie has faith that her hard work will make a tremendous difference in her and her children’s lives.  In addition to being committed to her job at Regis Distribution, Allie is one of Habitat for Humanity’s most dependable, hard-working Partner Families.  “I’m not going to take for granted what the Lord has put in my path.  This is an opportunity to provide a safe and secure place for me and my children to live.  My son can’t wait to paint and put up racing cars on the walls of his room!  I love my children so much and will continue to do my best for them.”  Allie is very grateful for the opportunity to not only help herself, but to also help others achieve the dream of one day owning their own home.