Alvin and Jeanine have been married for four years. They have both been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and while doing physical therapy, Jeanine met Alvin’s childhood friend, who had the great idea to set them up. They dated long distance while Jeanine was living in Powder Springs, Georgia and Alvin was in Wilmington, Delaware. They fell in love, got engaged, and got married within ten months. They will both tell you their story is “full of miracles,” their marriage being one of their biggest blessings.

Jeanine was born and raised in Knoxville, so in 2020, the two decided to move back here to be near family. Jeanine accepted a position as a Housing Coordinator with C.O.N.N.E.C.T. Ministries- a non-profit “community information networking resource center.” Jeanine told us, “I am blessed to “problem solve” in my role... Clients come into the office from all over the country. Knoxville is a great place to live and the word is out! Clients can trust me to refer them to the right resources to meet their needs. I have some experience with property management and it has helped me better serve the community in the midst of a housing crisis.”

Alvin has been working with the Knoxville Area Urban League as a Health Navigator. He said, “I know that it’s important to take care of your health, whether that’s getting vaccinated, a flu shot, health screenings, or seeing a healthcare professional. I love helping people!”

Despite their disabilities, or rather, in spite of MS, they are both active in the East Knoxville community. Jeanine said, “My childhood church is here and this is where I work and play.” They both have a passion for making connections and serving their community.

We asked them what homeownership would mean to them. Here’s what Jeanine told us-
“Owning a home would mean everything. We have had our struggles with trying to manage our health and earn enough income just to survive. We have both been told that we would be bound to live alone with a family member [for help]. We have been told we could never afford a home. We were told that disability [SSDI benefits] would not be sufficient enough for us to build a life together. We decided to love each other through it and try anyway. Alvin and I desire to live long and serve people because that’s what we feel we’ve been put on this earth to do. We will be able to sleep soundly knowing that a landlord cannot put us out of our home or raise the rent beyond our ability to pay. We want to be established despite the challenges we face… We believe God answers prayers and dreams do come true.”

UPDATE:

The Johnsons moved into their new home on April 28th. They have been unpacking and getting settled, but they have already gotten to know their new neighbors and hosted several gatherings for friends, family, and community members. We are so happy to see them thriving in their beautiful home.