A Home That Stays

By the time Shameka bought her home in Rocky Point in 2014, she was already carrying more responsibility than most people her age. Both of her parents were sick, and she was the one close enough to help. She moved from Burgaw not because she wanted something new, but because she needed something workable, something affordable, something that would allow her to be present for the people who depended on her.

Shameka

The mobile home cost less than the apartment she had been living in, a practical decision shaped by caregiving and financial reality. It wasn’t perfect, but it was close to family, and it was hers. Over time, the surrounding community became just as important as the structure itself. “Being that it is a tight knit community,” she said, “everyone helps each other.”

Caregiving did not stop at home. What began as caring for her parents eventually became her profession. Shameka now works in elderly care, a job she describes simply, without fanfare, but with quiet commitment. It is meaningful work, and demanding. When she is not working, she rests when she can and spends time with family when possible. She describes herself as a homebody, someone who finds comfort in staying in, in routine, in familiarity. “Home,” she said, “is my sanctuary.”

Then came Hurricane Florence.

The storm damaged her roof. Water made its way inside. Over time, the bathroom floor began to cave in. The damage was not just cosmetic. The flooring became unsafe, especially during a period when Shameka was already struggling physically. “For a while I was having trouble walking and I was falling,” she said.

She did not hesitate to ask for help. “I really needed it,” she said. Through the Pender County long-term recovery group formed after Hurricane Florence, she was connected to WARM NC. 

When the repairs were completed, the changes were immediately felt. All of the flooring in the home was replaced. A new bathroom vanity took the place of what had once been another point of instability. The work was careful and measured. “They did the most they could with the budget they had,” Shameka said. “I really appreciate it.”

What changed most was how the home felt beneath her feet.

“Safe flooring is very important,” she said. “The fixed flooring is such a help. It definitely makes me feel a lot safer.”

Safety, in this case, is not an abstract idea. It is the difference between falling and standing. Between anxiety and rest. Between wondering how much longer a home can hold and trusting that it will.

For Shameka, staying in her home as she gets older matters, even as she acknowledges uncertainty. “I would like to age in my home if I could,” she said. “But anything can happen.”

When asked what she would say to the people who made the repairs possible, her answer was direct and unembellished. “When I needed them the most, they came through for me,” she said. “I couldn’t afford it. Because of the hurricane, I was out of work and couldn’t fix it.”

And to others who might be living with similar uncertainty, unsure where to turn, she offered simple advice. “Don’t give it a second thought,” she said. “Give trust in the workers and have faith in the process.”

Today, Shameka’s home remains what it has always been, a quiet place, a sanctuary, a base from which she cares for others and restores herself. The difference is that now, it holds her more securely.