In 2010, Brena Bracy-Seals received a distressing call—her landlord informed her that the house she was renting was being sold. She had just 30 days to vacate. “I was looking for a lifeline because I didn’t know where else to go,” she recalls. The high rents in her community left Brena with limited options. Then, Brena remembered hearing about Habitat for Humanity… 

Brena ultimately secured a home through Habitat NYC and Westchester’s First Time Homebuyer Program in Brooklyn, avoiding housing insecurity and the grief of being compelled to leave her community. The process was not without its challenges—submitting considerable documentation and completing sweat equity hours in the depths of winter, all while watching her 30 days tick away. 

Brena persevered, and finally, her moment of joy arrived. “I opened the door; it was a joyful moment. I walked in with my mother and I saw a microwave in the corner and the microwave had a sign saying, Welcome Home, Brena.”  

That was 15 years ago. And now, Brena beams, “That immense blessing has actually led to me now being in the process of purchasing a second home. My father is disabled and needs to live on a ground floor apartment. I’m so pleased that after I close on my new home, I will be able to move my father into my Habitat home, where he can live comfortably, be mobile, independent, and age in place.” 

When reflecting on the concept of legacy, Brena shares, “When we think about ‘legacy’, we often think about providing for future generations. But being able to provide this home for my father—stability and comfort—the peace of mind knowing that he is safe, secure, and taken care of—that is my legacy. And it’s a dream come true. It’s a dream that wouldn’t have been possible without faith, determination, and Habitat NYC and Westchester.” 

Brena’s partnership with Habitat not only provided her with a safe and secure home but enabled her to build a better future for her family. “If you have ever supported Habitat, you helped me achieve my homeownership dream. You helped me build the life and equity necessary to purchase my second home. You helped me secure my father’s safe future. And you will help countless others like me, and their fathers, and their families. Thank you.”