Lincoln Middle School Teacher Faith Jordan Overcomes Challenges to Find Home in District #7
Lincoln Middle School math teacher Faith Jordan has her dream job, is living in a community she loves and will soon have a new home that she can call her own.
The path to get here, however, has been far from easy.
In 2018, Jordan’s life fell apart. She had moved to Colorado with her then husband and three daughters but ended up getting divorced, which left with her little money and bad credit.
“We were transient for a couple years. We stayed with a family for a few months until we could make it back to my parents in St. Louis and then stayed with another family.”
All while that was happening, Jordan finished her degree at UMSL to teach middle school math. She did her student teaching at Ferugson Middle School but had gotten her provincial license so she could get paid while teaching.
Her goal during this time was to return to the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon area and to work for District #7.
“We were living in Ferguson when everything happened with the riots and were not safe. My children are bi-racial, my now ex-husband is black and my father is a white police officer in a neighboring community to Ferguson.”
The family left Ferguson to stay at a friend’s house in Glen Carbon.
“I fell in love with the people and the community. So, when everything in Colorado fell apart, my number one goal was to get back there.”
After Jordan finished her degree, she was able to get a townhouse in Glen Carbon, and while she and her three daughters have made the two-bedroom place work, it’s been tough.
A conversation with a friend led to Habitat for Humanity and Jordan looked into the organization and was able to get her application submitted just in time. Out of the many applications received, Jordan’s was selected. Habitat for Humanity selects families based on need, ability to pay and willingness to partner.
Ground was broken last fall on land less than three minutes from Lincoln, while the building began in March. The house is expected to be completed around Thanksgiving.
“One of the biggest misconceptions about Habitat for Humanity is that they give free houses. They don’t. Instead, they work with you to build one and make it financially sustainable.”
There is also the sweat equity obligation, meaning Jordan must put in 200 hours working on her own house.
Jordan has also had to help Habitat for Humanity with many fundraisers, including several through area restaurants. The next scheduled fundraiser is a 5k at Airplane Park in Edwardsville on June 18. All money raised goes directly to the building of Jordan’s home.
There is still a lot of work to do before the Jordan’s move in, but they are all excited about the house that will become their own home.
“I’m looking forward to having our own space. To be able to decorate it and to be much closer to school. It’s our forever home. I never imagined I’d be able to be in a place that’s mine – even when I was married. But now I get to do that in this amazing community. We are in a good place, and this is the start of the next chapter, and it’s a beautiful chapter.”
