JOURNEY BACK INTO THE LIGHT- Barbara Franklin Sweat

Barbara Franklin Sweat, who moved into her HabiJax home in October 2007, describes herself as “sickeningly, sweetly happy”. But in the years before she became involved with HabiJax, that wasn’t always the case.

Several years ago, Barbara was in a dark place. A divorce left her with a mountain of debt. She lost her home, two cars and spiraled into feeling hopeless. “I was very much full of self pity – I felt abandoned, betrayed; I got demoted on the job . On every turn I was totally feeling like a failure with no hope.”

Barbara moved her daughter and son into the only apartment complex that would take her with less than stellar credit. It was tiny, in a high crime neighborhood and they soon found out they shared the space with bugs and roaches.

Brenda Sugar McDonald, one of Barbara’s co-workers at the Department of Children and Families and a HabiJax homeowner, began urging her to talk to HabiJax. “She told me “go.” I had heard about HabiJax and been to a couple of dedications, but I thought it wasn’t for me. My situation was different,” said Barbara. “But Brenda hounded me like a dog.”

FOUR LITTLE WORDS: WE’LL WORK WITH YOU
After two years of hounding, Barbara caved in and went to a meeting. To her surprise, she heard four little words she hadn’t heard for years: “we’ll work with you.”

Barbara filled out the paperwork and waited to hear the verdict, still unbelieving she would qualify. “When they told me I was qualified, I thought ‘are you kidding me?’ I couldn’t even get 90 days same as cash.”

She began attending HabiJax homebuyer classes and following the steps toward homeownership. And she began to slowly emerge from her dark place.

The first class was budgeting. “What an eye opener. I left there in tears. It was as if the man was speaking directly to me. Listen, when you are trying to keep creditors off your back, you do anything that works to stop them, but ultimately it is not good for you. I learned that 90 days same as cash is never good for you. Payday loans are never good for you. I learned that nothing works without discipline or a plan.”

Barbara continued: “They give you the tools, there’s so much information. And I’m not through yet, there are other courses I can take. I understand how to care for my home. I found out what happened to me, that personal hurricanes have ruined me. I learned how to keep it from happening again.”

REBUILDING FAMILY; CONFIDENCE
Like every HabiJax homeowner, Barbara invested not just in classes, but in sweat equity. She and her son Thomas spent Saturdays at job sites, where she learned another lesson: tolerance. “I don’t like rap music, I don’t hang out with young people with dreads – but here I was working with kids with dreads; they are holding a ladder for me and won’t let me fall. They taught me a lot. It’s OK to listen to funky music. It’s OK to laugh, even when you’re in a bad situation. I learned that my way of thinking and handling this was not good.”

Barbara gained confidence on the job site, but she also lost something. “I found I could do a little more each time. I knew that somebody would hold my hand with me. “ Over the course of working with HabiJax, she also lost 40 pounds. People in her life started to notice a difference.

“They noticed the weight first, but the silly grin on my face was starting to get annoying. I just got everything back. I got my youth back. I’m pushing 56, but before I was acting like I was 76. I couldn’t get up on the ladder one rung by myself. I was a mess.”

Barbara wasn’t the only one in the family with a newfound confidence. “On Saturdays, my son would wake up at 7 a.m. with a smiling face. All of a sudden my son was up near the gables, installing windows. He’d go over with the guys, and they would teach him.”

After months of classes and sweat equity, the big day finally came – move in day. “My house is on E 15th, in East Springfield. I’m on a block with four HabiJax houses besides mine. I have neighbors of all colors and ages. I’m surrounded by a real neighborhood, and I’m making it better.”

COMING HOME
Thanksgiving 2007 marked the first holiday Barbara and her family celebrated with guests in a long time. “We had company, and we haven’t had that in a long time because I was ashamed to have people over…the roaches, the leaks. We had a gourmet meal with friends, laughing until wee hours of the night. “

The good times are becoming an everyday occurrence for Barbara. Her son Thomas recently found out he is the recipient of the Hicks Scholarship, giving him full tuition, room, board, a new computer and stipend to attend the University of North Florida in the fall where he plans to study business law and finance.

“Home brings hope. When somebody brings you in, you work and you receive. It’s not a gift, it’s a partnership. You give back when you can or you tell somebody else.”

Her lessons are many. “I’m in awe of the people I’ve met. In awe. And I was getting crotchety and worn out and had no hope. And now I have the prettiest house I’ve ever seen. I want to help somebody else feel this good. I want somebody else to sleep this good. “

She concludes: “I got the joy of the Lord back. I’m happy to be alive. I have a grateful heart. I took responsibility for what I did. I had Brenda Sugar who would not let me say “no”. I want to tell her I love you and thank you. Now I tell everyone about HabiJax. And you can’t shut me up. “