Homeowner #1080 – Ikie S., 24, is an Oklahoma resident standing tall these days after Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity’s (COHFH) home dedication celebration held on June 15, 2023, at his new Habitat house in northeast Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Standing tall is something Ikie S. does naturally. As a former high school football player and Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs employee, he’s a strapping young man and over 6-feet tall. Ikie S. said performing his 100 hours of “sweat equity” duties as a part of his partnership with COHFH was no problem with the help of Habitat’s skilled staff.

“Habitat Logistics Manager Mike Brown and the staff really talked me through it,” Ikie S. said. “I worked on windows, carpeting and I did a bathroom – it wasn’t bad, it was fairly easy. It feels good that I worked for it.”

He recommends people who wish to apply for COHFH’s New Home Construction program to be patient and to read the guidelines carefully.

“Work with whomever is your person in your city or state,” Ikie S. said. “Mine was Ms. Rebecca Kendall, administrator of COHFH’s Family Services, and she’s very easy to work with. It feels amazing to have my own home finally.”