In early 2024, Crystal found herself at Sybil Smith Family Village, a transitional living program. It was there that she attended a financial literacy workshop led by Financial Wellbeing Coach Kevin Cooper, with the goal of finding a stable and safe place to live for her and her three-year-old son.

At the time, Crystal was staring down a credit score in the low 500s, a result of credit card mistakes she made when she was young. Growing up in a family that struggled financially and moved around constantly, Crystal’s initial goal was simply to raise her credit score so she could qualify for an affordable income-based apartment.

“I didn’t think I could ever own a home. I didn’t think that was ever achievable,” Crystal recalled. “My credit score was so low that I couldn’t get an unsecured credit card.”

Listening to Kevin explain practical credit-building concepts, something clicked. He broke down budgeting, debt management, and credit building into clear, actionable steps that felt like anyone could follow. “It was just how he presented the information and how engaging he was,” she said. “I was like, ‘Wait, I can do that.’”

That newfound confidence turned into action when tax refund season arrived. Crystal decided to invest in herself, taking $200 from her refund to open a secured credit card.

Equipped with Kevin’s specific, step-by-step method, she used her new credit card for something simple that wasn’t going to break the bank when she had to pay it back. “I charged

$10 in gas on the card. As soon as it showed up [in my account], I paid it off,” shared Crystal. She kept reminding herself, “Just keep doing what you’re doing… Stay focused on what you need to do and just keeping pushing towards that because it takes time, but it’s achievable.”

A major factor in Crystal’s perseverance was Kevin’s approachable coaching style. Rather than rushing through the material, Kevin ensured every participant across the virtual classes truly understood the mechanics of money.

“He’s like a big teddy bear,” Crystal smiled. “If someone was confused about something, he would stop and take the time to explain it in depth. He made it very personal by sharing his own credit issues. He tells it real on how it is and what’s truly going to help.”

While Crystal focused strictly on steady credit repair, that hard work unexpectedly opened a door she never thought possible. In August 2024, an office staff member at Sybil Smith alerted her that Habitat for Humanity was accepting a limited run of applications for brand new homes.

Crystal worked hard to complete the comprehensive application. Within a few months, she was thrilled to receive notification that it was approved, in large part to her financial discipline and a credit score that had climbed into the mid-600s.

Today, Crystal and her son live in their customized home on a peaceful half-acre lot.

“We’re five months in a brand-new home. It’s still one of those pinch-me moments—is this really real?” Crystal reflected. “Coming from a background of instability to giving my kid a stable, secure future means more to me than anything.”

Crystal isn’t stopping there. Her latest credit card pull showed an astonishing milestone: an 814 credit score, which is an increase of over 200 points in two years!

In addition, she has been taking Kevin’s Small Business Development classes through Operation HOPE as she prepares to launch her own private chef and catering business.

Her message to anyone standing where she once stood is simple:

“Investing in yourself is something that is not talked about a lot, but it’s truly worth it in the long run. Take that hard step. Take that first step. That’s terrifying. But if you work a little bit at it every day and stay determined, what you can achieve is remarkable.”

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