Paid in full: Meade County, Kentucky homeowner's mortgage goes up in flames
MEADE COUNTY, Kentucky. — Years of patience, perseverance and partnership came down to one memorable moment for Christina Russell on Sept. 19: watching her paid-off mortgage note go up in flames.
The ceremonial note burning took place during The Fuller Center for Housing of Meade County’s Foundations of Hope Gala, celebrating Christina’s final payment on her interest-free mortgage and full ownership of the home she worked so hard to attain.
Christina originally partnered with Meade County Habitat for Humanity to become a homeowner. When the local organization transitioned to The Fuller Center for Housing of Meade County in January 2024, she became part of The Fuller Center homeowner family.
Her journey to homeownership was not an easy one.
Christina remembers worrying whether she would even make it through the application process. After she was approved, the first property considered for her home failed the required perk test, forcing her to wait for another suitable property.
Then, once construction finally began, rain and other weather delays repeatedly slowed the work. Christina estimates it took about a year and a half before she was able to move into her new home.
Along the way, however, plenty of people walked beside her. Local volunteers provided labor. Businesses and community members contributed money, food, products and services. An out-of-state volunteer team came to Meade County to help with construction.
Christina also did her part, completing the required sweat-equity hours and homeowner education that were part of the partnership.
“This is a hand up, NOT a hand out,” Christina wrote while reflecting on her experience.
Years later, that partnership has reached its ultimate goal: Christina owns her home free and clear.
“To all who have been part of my journey, I thank you!” she said. “If it wasn’t for you and your kind hearts and blessings, I wouldn’t have what I have today.”
Christina attended the gala with her youngest daughter, Caitlyn Silveria, who still remembers helping with construction as a child — including assembling the T-shaped stud components used where walls intersect.
“That is my youngest daughter, who still today talks about helping make the ‘T’s’ for the house,” Christina said.
That childhood memory makes Christina’s milestone especially fitting. The daughter who once helped build pieces of the house was there years later to celebrate as her mother became its outright owner.
Christina’s milestone is also a reminder that the impact of partnership housing extends far beyond construction and move-in day. Through an affordable, interest-free mortgage, homeowners have an opportunity to build long-term stability and ultimately achieve something especially meaningful — full ownership of their homes.
For Christina, reaching that point was worth all the waiting, work and setbacks that came before it.
“I am proud to have made it to the end,” she said.
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Note: Fuller Center homeowners repay the costs of construction on terms they can afford, over time, through zero-percent-interest mortgage payments with those repayments staying int their local communities to help others get the same hand-up. This is how Fuller Center homeowners pay it forward and become givers themselves.
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