Home Is the Key

“The day that we get ready to move into our home,” Krushetta said, “I can tell you right now, I’m going to jump up and down and say, ‘I did it! This belongs to us.’” And that’s exactly what she did.

Habitat for Humanity International selected Krushetta, a mother of three boys, to highlight the importance of homeownership during its annual Home Is the Key campaign in Atlanta this year. The campaign raises awareness about the critical need for affordable housing in the U.S., where one in six families pays half or more of income on their rent or mortgage.

Krushetta, an avid HGTV fan, was ecstatic when she learned that Drew and Jonathan Scott of HGTV’s Property Brothers would be building with her. “It’s one of my favorite shows. I love the big reveal!” she says. They love it too. But they know that there is so much more at stake here.

“A lot of these families that Habitat works with, they never thought they would have a house that they could call their own,” Drew Scott said. “And so, for them to be able to see this path to achieving that goal, that means so much to us, because you’re changing people’s lives.”

Jonathan agrees. “We’ve seen firsthand how affordable homeownership changes lives,” he says. “Owning your own home—it’s not even just the American dream, it’s a human dream, it’s a family dream. It’s something that we think everybody should have the right to and access to, and Habitat for Humanity does it the best.”

“It’s adrenaline that’s inside my soul,” Krushetta says. “Being a homeowner is going to be joy. It’s going to be peace. It’s going to be love. It’s going to be happiness.”

Joy and happiness were in plentiful supply on the build when Jonathan and Drew revealed a special surprise. Habitat flew in Krushetta’s oldest son, Marquel, who serves in the army, based in Hawaii, for a month-long visit to help on her build. It was the first time she has seen him in more than a year. “I’m so numb. I don’t even know what to say!” Krushetta said.

After all, it’s family that makes a house a home.