Habitat for Humanity of Effingham County Helps Another Local Family Achieve the Dream of Homeownership

Tasheena Shiggs and her son Zaiden will be moving into the 24th home constructed by Habitat for Humanity of Effingham County later this year. She applied to be a partner family after hearing about Habitat for Humanity from a neighbor.

The family had been living in a duplex in Springfield until August 2023, when a kitchen fire on the other side of the duplex made their unit uninhabitable. Many of their possessions were also damaged by smoke and water. After the fire forced them to move out, Tasheena and Zaiden stayed with family members to save money.

“The only thing that was consistent was my job and his school,” says Tasheena.

Once she was accepted, she was looking forward to starting the building process. “I was ready to start moving in already,” says Tasheena. “I was also looking forward to the experience because I had never done anything like this before.” 

Each weekend starting in January of this year, volunteers gathered on the site of Tasheena’s new home to construct it from the ground up. “I’ve met a lot of great people,” says Tasheena. “They’re sacrificing their Saturdays for someone they don’t even know.”

Some of the most meaningful days on the build site were the wall-raising and the day they installed the vinyl siding. “It became a real house that day,” recalls Tasheena.

Tasheena learned a lot about construction while completing the required sweat equity hours for her home. “At first, I didn’t know the names of all the tools and I was worried I was going to slow down the process. Then I spoke to one of the construction leaders who said, ‘We’re all here because we want to be here.’”

Tasheena works for the Effingham County Board of Commissioners, where she is the deputy county clerk. In her job, she handles many organizational tasks like taking minutes for meetings and processing open records requests. Her hard work does not go unnoticed by her colleagues, because her coworkers recently banded together to throw her a housewarming party to supply her with many of the furnishings she will need for her new home.  

Tasheena and Zaiden are both looking forward to move-in day, but for different reasons. Tasheena is ready to start cooking in her new kitchen and putting her own personal touches on the home. Zaiden is excited about having his own space. “He’s ready to have his room again and be back in his own bed,” says Tasheena.

The home is nearing completion and will be dedicated in a ceremony this fall. “Helping people like Tasheena is the driving force of Habitat for Humanity,” says Jimmy Rutland, president/CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Effingham County. “We appreciate the support of our volunteers and donors who contribute to Habitat’s pathway to attainable homeownership.