SAVANNAH — Two Savannah families took the next step toward homeownership Wednesday when Habitat for Humanity broke ground on two new houses on a parcel donated by a local family.
From program completion to construction
The homes will belong to Ladorne Johnson and Yolanda Jeff, each of whom completed Habitat for Humanity’s 18-month homeownership program. The program requires participants to learn budgeting, saving and the practical responsibilities of maintaining a home, and to contribute work hours toward their build.
“This is the new start of a future for me and my kids,”
Johnson said. Jeff called the moment a fulfillment of a long-held objective: “Accomplishing a goal of mine, a personal goal that I have put out for myself. So I feel wonderful,” she said.
Both families will continue to meet the program’s sweat-equity requirement as construction proceeds. Johnson described a schedule that included long workdays outside her main job to complete hours required by the program; she credited her eldest son with helping to complete many of those hours.
- Program length: 18 months
- Homeowners: Ladorne Johnson and Yolanda Jeff
- Land source: Donated by a local family represented by Bonnie King
Local donation spurred the builds
The two-family project grew directly from a donation of property by a Savannah family. Bonnie King said she and her family decided to transfer the land to Habitat as a way to help neighbors.
“I said, ‘Momma, let’s just donate it to Habitat.’ And so we started the process. I had no idea it was two lots, which means two families. Paying it forward to somebody else,”
King’s gift created lots for two separate homes, increasing the impact of the donation beyond a single household. City leadership framed the builds as part of broader neighborhood investment.
Dr. Estella Edwards Shabazz, mayor pro tem for District 5, said the project’s effects will ripple outward, calling the homes a strengthening force for both the families and the surrounding community. “Every home that is built strengthens not only the families who live there, but also the neighborhoods,” she said.
What this means for the families and neighborhood
Homeownership through Habitat’s program is designed to provide participating families with financial education and practical experience in construction and maintenance. Those elements are intended to prepare homeowners for the long-term responsibilities of owning and preserving a home. For Johnson and Jeff, the builds represent both stability for their families and the realization of personal goals tied to independence and legacy.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Program duration | 18 months |
| Families | Ladorne Johnson, Yolanda Jeff |
| Land source | Donation from local family (Bonnie King) |
The construction is expected to continue with the families contributing labor alongside Habitat volunteers and staff. Habitat programs typically combine volunteer labor, donated materials and affordable mortgages to make homeownership accessible to qualifying families.
For the broader Savannah community, projects like this signal collaborative approaches to addressing housing needs: neighborhood stakeholders donating land, nonprofit organizations guiding building and finance education, and families committing to the work required to secure stable homes. For Johnson and Jeff, the next months will be spent watching their homes rise from foundation to finished residence while continuing to meet program obligations.
“I can see my home being built from the ground up and I’m here for it,” Jeff said, encapsulating the hands-on involvement organizers expect from partner families during construction.
Habitat for Humanity and local officials say such partnerships are a model for increasing affordable homeownership opportunities in Savannah, particularly on small infill lots made available through private donations.
