VALRICO, Fla. — Two years ago, Terri Hughes was noticing problems with her aging home.  

A wood-frame home built in the 1950’s, she needed the home treated for termites and a new roof.

But what started as some repairs, turned in to a nightmare.

"I sat on the toilet and fell through the floor,” said Hughes. “The guy putting the tenting on my house fell through the roof.  I was in trouble."

Hughes had the home paid off, but as a single grandmother raising her grandson, she would struggle to pay for repairs.

She reached out to Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay, a non-profit that helps families just like Terri’s.

RTTB quickly determined the one was beyond repair, and within months relocated the Hughes and demolished the old home, building a brand new one in its place.

Executive Director of RTTB Jose Garcia says as the family moves in to the new home, the mortgage will be silent which means the family will owe no mortgage payments.

After 20 years, the lien on the home disappears, allowing Terri’s Hughes grandson to remain in the home and maybe even raise his own family.

After 20 years, the lien on the home disappears, allowing Terri’s Hughes grandson to remain in the home and maybe even raise his own family. *Chris McDonald, SPectrum News staff)

“It’s a house that is going to be there for many, many, many years."

After a long difficult stretch of the unknown, Hughes fought back tears the day before she gets the keys to the new home.

She now has security for the rest of her life, and knows her grandson will too.

 “They are happy tears,” said Hughes.  It's just been a long two years."

Hillsborough County donated $225,000 to RTTB for the new home.