, Fla. \u2014 A Melbourne mother who once experienced homelessness while pregnant is celebrating a milestone she once thought was impossible: becoming a homeowner.<\/p>\n
Today, Mariah Humphries and her 7-year-old daughter, Ava, are settling into Space Coast Habitat for Humanity\u2019s first 3D-printed home in Florida, marking the latest chapter in a remarkable journey from homelessness to homeownership.<\/p>\n
Standing inside her new home, Humphries proudly points out the rooms she now calls her own.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the living room, and this is my kitchen,\u201d she said while giving a tour. \u201cThis is my bedroom.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Humphries, the home represents far more than walls and a roof. Just a few years ago, she was homeless and living in the woods while seven months pregnant.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, it\u2019s more of a safe space,\u201d Humphries said. \u201cI have a home. I don\u2019t have to move. I don\u2019t have to bounce. I don\u2019t have to worry about tomorrow or five years from now or ten years from now. I now have a home that I can call my own.\u201d<\/p>\n
Humphries credits New Life Mission for helping her rebuild her life. She entered the organization\u2019s program for homeless women and children in 2021 and began working toward a more stable future.<\/p>\n
Over the next several years, she worked full time, attended school, raised her daughter, and completed the sweat-equity hours required by Space Coast Habitat for Humanity, helping build homes for other families in need.<\/p>\n
\u201cI decided to change the chain my family had,\u201d Humphries said. \u201cMy dad was fine, my mom had some problems, so I decided one day that I was not going to let my daughter go through the same thing. When I was pregnant with her, I decided to get up, brush off, and try and change the whole situation.\u201d<\/p>\n
That determination has now led Humphries and her daughter into a home of their own.<\/p>\n
The house is Space Coast Habitat for Humanity\u2019s first 3D-printed home in Melbourne, part of an effort to explore innovative ways to create more affordable housing. The structure was built using technology developed by Apis Cor, a company specializing in 3D-printed construction.<\/p>\n
But while the technology behind the home may be groundbreaking, Humphries said that was not what mattered most to her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t care,\u201d she said. \u201cAs long as it was a home.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Humphries, the new house is more than an engineering achievement. It is a symbol of perseverance, stability, and a brighter future for her family.<\/p>\n
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