As home prices and interest rates continue to climb, more families are struggling to cross the threshold into homeownership, especially single parents trying to save on a single income.
Dieudonne Phanor is one of them.
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The Jacksonville mom of three is working two jobs and launching a fundraiser in hopes of finally buying a home her children can grow up in, with the backyard they’ve always dreamed of.
“I’m a single mother of three, and I’m raising money to buy a house in Jacksonville,” Phanor said. “My kids, they’re 11, 8, and 4. They all have different personalities. I just love seeing how different they are and seeing myself in them. It’s just amazing. I love being a mother.”
Phanor moved to Jacksonville from Miami five years ago, hoping to find a more affordable lifestyle. She’s been saving for the last three years, relying on her income tax returns and making personal sacrifices along the way.
Still, she says, it’s not enough. Phanor has submitted offers on several homes but hasn’t landed one yet. In most cases, she says she’s relying on the seller to help cover closing costs.
“Saving has been hard. Every time I try, I have to take money back out to take care of my kids,” she said. “And now that I’m finally close to buying, I didn’t realize how high the closing costs would be.”
That’s what led her to start a GiveSendGo fundraiser, a difficult step for someone who doesn’t like asking for help.
“I didn’t want to do it,” she said. “But I figured, why not? Even a little bit could help, with the mortgage, the closing costs, it’s going to go towards furnishing the home because I have to start from scratch.”
Despite moving to Jacksonville for its lower cost of living, Phanor says things have changed since she arrived.
“When I moved, it was easier. I feel like I should have purchased a home at that time,” she said. “Now? It’s not great at all.”
She says her current salary doesn’t match the rising cost of living, and she worries about what the future looks like for her kids.
“It was easier for our parents. Their salaries matched the times. But for this generation, it is hard. And I think about whether or not my kids will be able to have the opportunity to purchase a home later down the line if I myself am having a hard time purchasing a home now.”
Still, she sees homeownership as more than a dream, it’s a step toward building generational wealth and breaking the cycle.
“I also want my kids to know that if I did it, you can too. You know, it may be hard for us right now. I hope in the future it gets better for the generations to come,” she said.
“You want a big house with a, backyard in it? Maybe Mama can’t give it to you right now, but I’m going to give you the backyard. But you know what? You work hard to get that big house in the backyard, and you put your kids in it. So I just wanted them to know that it’s possible.”
Phanor says the money raised will be used to help with closing costs and mortgage expenses.
To support Dieudonne and her family’s homeownership journey, visit her fundraiser at: 👉 GiveSendGo.com/Donnafamilyhome