A Shelbyville resident is finally getting a home of her own. Truly Cole received her Habitat for Humanity home last Friday and will be closing on the Oak Street house this week. 

As one who has spent most of her life in government housing or renting, Cole knows the value of a home that you own. 

“I am thankful to have my first home. And I appreciate everything everybody has done to get me here. You did it. You did it,” said Cole. 

Plus, the 350 hours of sweat equity she put it felt “great.” This is on top of her saving for her down payment. 

“I had never done anything like that before, so it was a new experience and it taught me a lot,” said Cole.  

“This is a good day,” said Shontelli Head, Cole’s daughter. 

Executive Director Pam Birtcil retold how many people involved, both in the city and on the board, initially thought the lot on Oak Street was too small. But when the codes department told her they could build a 24 foot by 40 foot home, they got to work.  

And it seemed many people in the neighborhood became inspired. 

“When we first started this, we put a sign up, and it kind of got people’s attention. We started seeing some differences going on in the neighborhood,” said Birtcil. That is, nine houses got refurbished or cleaned up in some way in the time the home was being built, according to Birtcil. 

“I can say we’re on the start-end of something great in some of these neighborhoods...I think when you show a neighborhood or a street that you care, they start caring too,” she said.

“But all of this would not be possible without the many sponsors and volunteers who help out where they can. “I can tell you, from my standpoint, when people look at me and go, ‘I’ll help you with that,’ that’s a blessing for everyone involved,” said Birtcil.