A message of love behind the walls

In July, Shelda Philogene completed half of her York Habitat for Humanity sweat-equity hours and was able to choose her future home. Volunteers then left handwritten messages for her on the studs of the house.  ​

Inside an unfinished town house on the 700 block of Chestnut Street in York, Shelda Philogene stands surrounded by messages of love written within the walls of her future home. At every York Habitat for Humanity new construction, before drywall goes up, volunteers write notes on the wooden studs of the wall frames. 

Shelda recognizes her brother’s Haitian Creole handwriting in a few of them. Others were left by volunteers she might never meet but whose care is ingrained in the home she expects to move into in October. 

“I would like to think this house is built out of love and dedication,” she says. “You can feel it, too, even just walking in here, that there have been a lot of effort that has been put into the structure of this home.”  

A search that felt nearly impossible

​Before connecting with York Habitat for Humanity, Shelda spent months looking for a home she could afford. Rising prices repeatedly pushed homeownership beyond her reach. Meanwhile, the rent on her small apartment continued to increase. 

When the traditional homebuying process didn’t work, she applied to York Habitat’s homeownership program. She was approved, completed an interview, and began moving through the steps of the plan. 

As a caseworker with Bell Socialization Services’ Bridge Transitional Housing program, Shelda helps families experiencing homelessness to work toward acquiring stable housing. She guides clients as they prepare to move into public housing or pursue homes of their own. 
​
“It’s almost like the same process is what I’m doing now, kind of helping them find a home as well,” she says. 

Working toward a home of her own

Throughout the last year, York Habitat staffers and volunteers have helped Shelda organize her finances, connect with a financial advisor, and begin to put in the 225 sweat-equity hours every prospective Habitat homeowner must complete.  

She initially volunteered at the York Habitat ReStore, cleaning, organizing, and stocking the shop. Eventually she moved to the Chestnut Street construction site, where she worked alongside volunteers and Habitat staffers on four townhomes under construction. Shelda helped install siding, frame out walls, and build porches. 
​
She also completed financial education through Community Progress Council, a partnership that York Habitat established in 2025 as part of their financial literacy requirement. Shelda found the information incredibly valuable, and in her effort to reach her financial goals, she took the course twice. 

Making a house her home

Once she reached the halfway point of her sweat-equity hours in July, Shelda could choose which of the four homes would be hers. For the first time in her life, she is selecting home furnishings that reflect her tastes, including flooring, lighting, cabinets, and appliances. She can picture the finished rooms and plans a garden filled with fruits and vegetables. 

“I’ve always imagined but never fully have gotten to this place where I’m literally there,” she says. 

The space in the two-story, three-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bathroom house will give her room to grow her cosmetics and hair care business, which she hopes to expand after moving. 

'Counting down the days'

Working toward homeownership with York Habitat for Humanity has shown Shelda that Habitat homeownership is not a giveaway. She will have a mortgage after she moves in, and will have to follow the budgeting plan she’s established with York Habitat’s help. 

“It is a work, but at the same time I was motivated,” she says. “It’s worth all the sweat and it’s worth all the time that is put in. It’s definitely worth it to be able to walk into your home.”  

With completion of the house drawing closer, Shelda has started packing for the move. 
​
“I love Habitat,” she says. “It is such an amazing program, and I’m excited and I’m literally counting down the days and I can’t wait to move in.” ​