Our Current
Families
The Greater Erie Area Habitat for Humanity has helped provide 77 families (114 adults and 191 children) with safe, decent, and affordable housing. Our partner families earn the chance to own a home by dedicating themselves to the program, completing at least 300 sweat equity hours, attending monthly budget coaching sessions, participating in homeownership preparation classes, and receiving credit counseling. Their hard work and commitment turn the dream of homeownership into reality. We invite you to explore the inspiring stories of our current partner families.
The Copeland Family
The Copelands are one of our new Habitat families. Antonio and Denaysha both grew up in Erie and met while they were students at Erie High School. Antonio’s favorite class was science, while Denaysha favored social studies. Despite these differences, they started dating while in high school and have been together ever since. They got married in 2023 and have a daughter named Telana.
Antonio works full time at an Erie Walmart, while Denaysha is a full time stay at home mom. Telana is an active girl, and likes to sing, dance, and do puzzles. Right now, she loves Bluey and Peppa Pig. She goes to pre-school five days a week. As a family, the Copelands like to play outside, go to the movies (Telana has just discovered movies in the theater), and complete puzzles together.
Both Antonio and Denaysha want a home of their own. They want a backyard where Telana can play outside safely. They want to hold family barbeques and picnics in their home and yard. They want to build equity instead of paying high rents. They want to make changes to their home without having to ask a landlord for permission. Above all, home for the Copeland family is a place where they can be together, where they can relax. They want to create a warm, relaxing, calm environment where Telana is safe, where she can bring her friends over to play, and where they can grow as a family. They look forward to putting down roots in their permanent new home, to making this home their own, and contributing to the life of their new neighborhood by being good neighbors to those around them.
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The Melendez Family
Born in Queens, NY, Christina Melendez's journey has been one of resilience and ambition. At the age of five, she moved to Titusville, PA, where she spent her formative years until she was 19. She then relocated to Indiana for four years before returning to Titusville. In 2016, she made the move to Erie, PA, seeking greater opportunities and a better future for herself and her children.
Christina is a graduate of Titusville High School and has furthered her education in massage therapy and human services. Her professional journey has been marked by dedication and growth. She initially took a managerial position at Dollar Tree before transitioning to Citi Trends, where she has worked her way up to store manager, a role she continues to thrive in.
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Christina is a devoted mother to three wonderful children:
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Nova (5): A kindergartener at Benjamin Wiley Charter School, she loves visiting the trampoline park for fun.
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Daciana (11): A 5th grader at Benjamin Wiley Charter School, she enjoys gymnastics and drawing.
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Sevaeha (14): An 8th grader at Benjamin Wiley Charter School, she is passionate about basketball, football, and music. She also participates in school plays and is part of the advanced Compass program. Sevaeha has dreams of becoming a business owner someday and enjoys making TikToks and spending time with family and friends.
The children dream of having their own rooms to decorate, as well as a trampoline and a pool in their future home. The family also shares their love with a bearded dragon named Dreco and hopes to add a puppy to their household once they have a home of their own.
Christina has always dreamed of traveling the world. She would love to visit Paris or Jamaica, where she could experience new cultures and cuisines. Her children also have their own travel aspirations: Nova is content just playing on the beach, Daciana is drawn to big cities, and Sevaeha envisions zip-lining over Jamaica’s breathtaking waters.
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Faith plays a significant role in Christina’s life. She and her children are active members of Elevate Church, where they attend services every Sunday and volunteer in various church activities.
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For a long time, Christina believed homeownership was out of reach. However, through her hard work and determination, she is now on the path to achieving that dream. She looks forward to having the freedom to be creative, cultivate her own garden, and make a home truly her own—without the limitations of renting. Owning a home is more than just having a place to live; for Christina, it represents independence, stability, and a reward for the perseverance that has brought her this far.