Dilanda’s Story

Dilanda, with her bright smile and warm spirit, has finally found a place to call her own. Originally from the Federated States of Micronesia—a collection of islands in the South Pacific—she moved to Chattanooga in 2010 and fell in love with the peace of the mountains, a far cry from her childhood on a family farm surrounded by mangoes, bananas, and pineapples.

The youngest of 13 siblings, Dilanda was raised in a home where everything was shared. Now, she’s thrilled to have a home of her own to share with her teenage daughter, a talented musician, and their three beloved dogs: Princess, Taco, and Haze. Tired of moving and battling rising rent, Dilanda was inspired to apply to Habitat after visiting friends with a beautiful, affordable Habitat home. She was overjoyed to be accepted and says, “I’m going to be the landlord of my house! Nobody can tell me anything!”

Though balancing work, family, and sweat equity hours was a challenge, Dilanda embraced the journey and built meaningful friendships along the way. She especially appreciated learning about budgeting, credit, and preparing for long-term success through Habitat’s homeowner classes.

Now happily moved in, Dilanda is grateful for the stability, affordability, and peace of mind her home brings. “Every day I wake up and thank God,” she says. “Thanks to all the Habitat employees who helped me from the start—I'm so excited to be here!”