Photos: Warrick Dunn's charity program makes new home possible -- again -- for single mom and kids
On Friday, Latrenda Perkins, the single mom of children Billy Perkins, 10, and Lebria Perkins, 15, could jingle the keys to her new Habitat for Humanity of Greater Baton Rouge home, made possible through partnership with the 'Homes for the Holidays' program of former Baton Rougean and NFL running back Warrick Dunn. But Latrenda didn't know it would come stocked with $10,000 worth of furniture, appliances, and technology from Aaron's, Inc., and loaded with groceries from the local Shoppers Value Foods, which is co-owned by Ted Harvey and wife Lisa Harvey, who is also Principal of Catholic High, where Dunn played his high school ball. For nearly a decade, Perkins and her children shared a single room in her parents' Baton Rouge house, until the August 2016 flood displaced the entire family. The new three bedroom house was built by Habitat, with fundraising help from CHS, which also supplied manpower from students, faculty and parents to help build the house, which Latrenda worked on as well. Dunn's program that helps single parents become homeowners is one of the ways he honors his later mother, Baton Rouge Police Dept. Cpl. Betty Smothers, who was killed in an robbery-ambush while providing off-duty security during a bank deposit in 1993. The HFTH program, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary this November, works by providing a substantial down payment to help keep the new homeowners' mortgage payments low, allowing them to still have money to do things like buy a car, and save for emergencies. Warrick Dunn Charities, established in 2002, provides even more help, including financial literacy classes and scholarships for post-secondary education.

Latrenda Perkins, left, a single mom of children Billy Perkins, 10, second from left, and Lebria Perkins, 15, right, jingles the keys to her new Habitat for Humanity home on Convention Street, made possible through partnership with the 'Homes for the Holidays' program of former Baton Rougean and NFL running back Warrick Dunn, second from right, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017.
- ADVOCATE STAFF PHOTO BY TRAVIS SPRADLING

Single mother of two Latrenda Perkins, center, reaches to hug former Baton Rougean and NFL running back Warrick Dunn, as she gets ready to sign the paperwork for her new Habitat for Humanity home, made possible through Dunn's 'Homes for the Holidays' program, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017. Others, from left are Latrenda's father Dwight Roberts, her mother Debra Roberts, niece Briyon Foster, 6, and Latrenda's children Lebria Perkins,15, and Billy Perkins,10, and Habitat of Greater Baton Rouge executive director Lynn Clark.
- ADVOCATE STAFF PHOTO BY TRAVIS SPRADLING

'Welcome' wreath on single mother Latrenda Perkins' new Habitat for Humanity home, made possible through the 'Homes for the Holidays' program of former Catholic High and NFL running back Warrick Dunn, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017.
- ADVOCATE STAFF PHOTO BY TRAVIS SPRADLING

From left, former Catholic High and NFL running back Warrick Dunn, single mom Latrenda Perkins, and her daughter Lebria Perkins, 15, look on as Latrenda's excited son Billy Perkins, 10, explores his new bedroom in the Perkins' new Habitat for Humanity home on Convention Street, made possible through Dunn's 'Homes for the
- ADVOCATE STAFF PHOTO BY TRAVIS SPRADLING

Former Catholic High and NFL running back Warrick Dunn, left, watches with satisfaction as Lebria Perkins, 15, and her mom Latrenda Perkins, right, explore a room in their new house, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017.
- ADVOCATE STAFF PHOTO BY TRAVIS SPRADLING

Red roses and a framed artwork enscribed with 'Trenda' and 'Mom,' on the bed of Latrenda Perkins, a single mother of two, in her new Habitat for Humanity home, made possible through partnership the 'Homes for the Holidays' program of former Catholic High and NFL running back Warrick Dunn, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017.
- ADVOCATE STAFF PHOTO BY TRAVIS SPRADLING

Billy Perkins, 10, his mom Latrenda Perkins, former NFL running back and Baton Rouge native Warrick Dunn and Latrenda's daughter Lebria Perkins, 15, make a pretty picture as they pose for a living room portrait in the Perkins' new Habitat for Humanity home on Convention Street, made possible through a partnership with Dunn's 'Homes for the Holidays' program, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017.
- ADVOCATE STAFF PHOTO BY TRAVIS SPRADLING

Latrenda Perkins, left, a single mother of two, get handed paperwork for her new Habitat for Humanity home by Habitat attorney Goerge Pierson, right, the homemade possible through partnership with the 'Homes for the Holidays' program of former Catholic High and NFL running back Warrick Dunn, standing, center, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017. Others, from left, are Perkins' children Billy, 10, Lebria, 15, nephew Dwayne Roberts, Jr., 4, and Habitat of Greater Baton Rouge executive director Lynn Clark.
- ADVOCATE STAFF PHOTO BY TRAVIS SPRADLING
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Latrenda Perkins, left, a single mom of children Billy Perkins, 10, second from left, and Lebria Perkins, 15, right, jingles the keys to her new Habitat for Humanity home on Convention Street, made possible through partnership with the 'Homes for the Holidays' program of former Baton Rougean and NFL running back Warrick Dunn, second from right, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017.
- ADVOCATE STAFF PHOTO BY TRAVIS SPRADLING
Single mother of two Latrenda Perkins, center, reaches to hug former Baton Rougean and NFL running back Warrick Dunn, as she gets ready to sign the paperwork for her new Habitat for Humanity home, made possible through Dunn's 'Homes for the Holidays' program, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017. Others, from left are Latrenda's father Dwight Roberts, her mother Debra Roberts, niece Briyon Foster, 6, and Latrenda's children Lebria Perkins,15, and Billy Perkins,10, and Habitat of Greater Baton Rouge executive director Lynn Clark.
- ADVOCATE STAFF PHOTO BY TRAVIS SPRADLING
'Welcome' wreath on single mother Latrenda Perkins' new Habitat for Humanity home, made possible through the 'Homes for the Holidays' program of former Catholic High and NFL running back Warrick Dunn, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017.
- ADVOCATE STAFF PHOTO BY TRAVIS SPRADLING
From left, former Catholic High and NFL running back Warrick Dunn, single mom Latrenda Perkins, and her daughter Lebria Perkins, 15, look on as Latrenda's excited son Billy Perkins, 10, explores his new bedroom in the Perkins' new Habitat for Humanity home on Convention Street, made possible through Dunn's 'Homes for the
- ADVOCATE STAFF PHOTO BY TRAVIS SPRADLING
Former Catholic High and NFL running back Warrick Dunn, left, watches with satisfaction as Lebria Perkins, 15, and her mom Latrenda Perkins, right, explore a room in their new house, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017.
- ADVOCATE STAFF PHOTO BY TRAVIS SPRADLING
Red roses and a framed artwork enscribed with 'Trenda' and 'Mom,' on the bed of Latrenda Perkins, a single mother of two, in her new Habitat for Humanity home, made possible through partnership the 'Homes for the Holidays' program of former Catholic High and NFL running back Warrick Dunn, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017.
- ADVOCATE STAFF PHOTO BY TRAVIS SPRADLING
Billy Perkins, 10, his mom Latrenda Perkins, former NFL running back and Baton Rouge native Warrick Dunn and Latrenda's daughter Lebria Perkins, 15, make a pretty picture as they pose for a living room portrait in the Perkins' new Habitat for Humanity home on Convention Street, made possible through a partnership with Dunn's 'Homes for the Holidays' program, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017.
- ADVOCATE STAFF PHOTO BY TRAVIS SPRADLING
Latrenda Perkins, left, a single mother of two, get handed paperwork for her new Habitat for Humanity home by Habitat attorney Goerge Pierson, right, the homemade possible through partnership with the 'Homes for the Holidays' program of former Catholic High and NFL running back Warrick Dunn, standing, center, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017. Others, from left, are Perkins' children Billy, 10, Lebria, 15, nephew Dwayne Roberts, Jr., 4, and Habitat of Greater Baton Rouge executive director Lynn Clark.
- ADVOCATE STAFF PHOTO BY TRAVIS SPRADLING