Candis' Next Chapter
Written by Elsa Conklin, Senior Content Marketing Specialist
Candis’ next chapter is just beginning.
A proud new homeowner, a newly minted college graduate, and a mom – Candis has a lot on her plate, and so much to be proud of. Candis, her two children, and pup Sprinkle recently moved into one of the last homes to be built of the 28 planned homes in the upcoming Hope Springs community in northwest Charlotte. She had prayed to be in a community – to have that sense of community, a sense of peace, love, and joy in her own neighborhood – and is thrilled to find that in Hope Springs, where she chose to build her home.
Life didn’t always look this way — it was years of hard work and determination to get her to this point. Originally from the small, rural town of Gray Court, South Carolina, Candis craved a bigger city and moved to Charlotte in 2011. As a single mom in a growing city, navigating the rising costs of rent grew increasingly difficult. “After years of paying rent with nothing to show for it, I wanted to invest in something that truly belonged to us — a home where my family could grow, feel secure, and build a future,” she shared.
Candis first learned of Habitat Charlotte Region’s Homebuyer Program through a homeowner who shared their journey with her, opening her eyes to what was possible. After renting apartment after apartment, often in unsafe areas because it’s what she could afford, she longed for the financial stability of her own home and a safe neighborhood for her children to play. She was ready to plant roots in the city she’s called home for nearly two decades, and had finally found the right opportunity: “What inspired me to apply was the chance to finally become a homeowner and create long‑term financial stability for my children,” she shared.
“Going through the Habitat for Humanity program was truly a transformative experience,” shared Candis. The financial education component of the program equipped her with tools for the future and long-term success as a homeowner, the ultimate goal of Habitat’s Homebuyer Program. Candis found the home-building process particularly powerful: “Adding words of affirmation inside the walls was especially meaningful — it felt like I was placing pieces of my heart and hope into the foundation of my future home.” She even gained practical hands-on skills during her volunteer hours out on the build site, where her site supervisor encouraged her to tackle challenges and learn new skills.
Now that Candis is officially a homeowner, she’s soaking up the feeling of a dream fulfilled: “This home represents a long‑standing goal that has finally been fulfilled. I thank God every day for this blessing and for the stability it brings to my family’s future.” This milestone is not the end of her story, but the beginning of a new chapter. Candis looks forward to cheering on her son through middle school and celebrating her daughter, now finishing her first year at Winston-Salem State University, as they chart their own paths.
And Candis herself isn’t done growing, either. She just completed her bachelor’s degree in public health from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, as part of her “commitment to serving and uplifting my community,” shared Candis. After touring a home years ago that had a concerning gas smell and lacked a carbon monoxide detector, she felt compelled to pursue a career in which she could advocate for others’ safety. That connects back to her passion for affordable housing – not just for what it will offer her and her family going forward, but the community as a whole. In February, she had the opportunity to share these very perspectives with North Carolina’s elected officials at Habitat on the Hill, an advocacy conference in Washington, D.C., to help bring more affordable housing to our region. She steps into this next season carrying the lessons, resilience, and hard-won confidence that brought her here — ready for whatever comes next.