Nikale is a Charlotte native and lives with her mother and her 16-year-old son, Liam. As a single parent, she has worked hard to provide a stable foundation for her family, but luck hasn’t always been on her side. After her father passed away in 2014, Nikale and her family moved to a different rental in Windsor Park. What was meant to be a positive change of scenery and a time of healing turned into a nightmare. The poorly sealed windows and doors and leaking roof let in not just the outside elements, but pests and bugs as well. She was forced to add pest control to her expenses, while also facing the additional expenses of high heating and cooling bills. Despite the rising rent, her landlord let the home fall into disrepair, failing to provide solutions to the poor conditions Nikale and her family were facing. Facing the constant slew of mold, pests, leaks, and general disrepair and negligence, her home was not the haven they needed it to be – it was the cause of both immense mental and financial stress. Despite this ongoing battle, her family could not afford to move.  

In 2018, Nikale’s world came crashing down. Her oldest son, Dorian, tragically passed away in a car accident at the age of 18. Any semblance of hope she had was lost as her family navigated this unimaginable loss.  

Nikale’s story doesn’t end here – this is just the beginning. Having been an educator for almost 25 years in Title I schools with many students who face the affordable housing crisis at home and experiencing stressful subpar, unaffordable housing herself, Nikale is a natural advocate. Her experience going through Habitat’s program only furthered her belief that everyone is worthy of a safe, decent, affordable home. She and Liam took part in an Advocacy Training from Habitat Charlotte Region. This spurred further involvement, capping off with the Habitat on the Hill 2025 trip to Washington D.C. along with Habitat affiliates from across the country. During this three-day conference in the nation’s capital, Nikale, Liam, and Habitat Charlotte Region staff gathered with nearly 500 housing advocates from across the country to celebrate the power of affordable homeownership and to push for policies that make it possible for more families.