Kalynn Kirchoff had some major bumps in the road on her journey to home ownership. In 2020, she was diagnosed with melanoma cancer. In 2022, the apartment she and her son, Calan, lived in flooded. The two shared a bedroom in her parents’ house until she was approved for a home through Habitat for Humanity in Blount County, Tennessee.
“We made it work, but he was ready for his own room,” said Kalynn. “I thought I was never going to get here.”
Housing is very expensive in this bucolic rural area close to Nashville and the Smoky Mountains. Kalynn has a modest one story, three-bedroom home of 1200 square feet. Habitat’s cost of building it was $190,000, and it is valued at $270,000. These conditions make it impossible for moderate wage earners like Kalynn to consider purchasing a home.
Blount County Habitat keeps mortgages affordable by raising individual and corporate donations and using volunteer labor. Clayton Homes, a local modular building company, has sponsored homes and supplied volunteers. Women’s Builds provide a supportive environment for those learning new skills. Kalynn’s home was a Faith Build, where local churches band together to sponsor a portion of the home.
Studies have shown that children who grow up in Habitat homes have more stable and productive lives than their peers. They are more likely to graduate high school and college, have better mental and physical health, and are more civic minded. These homes are impacting families and communities for generations.
Kalynn lives in a Habitat neighborhood with 20 lots. It is in a good school system with a nearby greenway, and a number of her neighbors are also single mothers. Having stable, affordable housing will help her maintain a healthy lifestyle to remain cancer free and give her family of two a place to enjoy cooking and eating holiday meals together.
