WINCHESTER, Ky. — Habitat for Humanity of Madison & Clark Counties' (HFHMCC) latest project is in Winchester. Their plan is to revitalize Lincoln Street with the help of the city of Winchester donating the land and serving as a partner in the project.
Jamie Skinner and her daughter Trentity were the first family to receive a home on the street. HFHMCC’s goal is to build five more homes on Lincoln by the end of the year for more families in need of a home.
What You Need To Know
- Jamie Skinner and her daughter Trentity received a new home from Habitat for Humanity of Madison & Clark Counties on Jan. 22, 2022
- The program's goal is to build five more homes on Lincoln by the end of the year
- The Skinners lived with Jamie’s father before receiving their home because of finances
- The Skinners are most excited to have their own space and rooms in their new home
It’s been a long time coming for the Skinner family. Jamie Skinner has dreamed of home ownership since 2019 for her daughter Trentity.
In order to make that dream into a reality, the Skinners moved into Jamie’s father’s home to save money and pay off debt. At the same time, Jamie Skinner started considering an application with HFHMCC for a new home.
Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022 is when the Skinner's dream was turned into a reality. Their HFHMCC home was dedicated to them and they received keys.
The people that made it all happen were there to support including volunteers, sponsors, project managers, project funders, HFHMCC families and numerous pastors.
“This is my mentor [Danny Knox Skinner], this is a coworker, this is Hope Broecker and we all built this shed together,” Skinner said.
The Skinners helped HFHMCC project manager Hope Broecker build and paint walls and doors with their own hands as a part of the 350 sweat-filled volunteer hours required by HFHMCC to receive a home.
The Skinner’s home is a part of HFHMCC’s Faith Build, which took the City of Winchester and Thrivent as sponsors in addition to 12 partner churches.
“We just want to get in here and we don’t have to have a fully furnished home. Just somewhere where we can wash, eat and be warm and then we’ll work on everything else as it comes from day to day,” Skinner said.
As a single mom, Jamie does whatever it takes to care of her 15-year-old daughter Trentity, including the daily commute to Lexington where she works at Transylvania University as the administrative assistant for facilities management.
“I just never really thought of having a home for me and my mom for ourselves," Trentity said. "I was happy, I was really happy."
The ninth grader said she plans to paint her new room purple. The Skinners also went through a vigorous screening and interviewing process to see if they would make the best match.
Larilyn Koury, who serves as HFHMCC president, said finding a family that needs a home is about a partnership.
“We have several different visits with our family selection committee. Bottom line is: We are looking for a family who is willing to partner with us, a family who can afford to pay for a home and a family who is in need of a home.” said Koury.
“It’s good to know you have the support team behind you and people cheering you on and helping you where you need to be. Me and Trentity have been blessed,” said Skinner.
The Skinner family says they hope to start moving in their belongings in the next week.