Sometimes things work out.
As part of our Long Acres work in SE Raleigh, the City of Raleigh had acquired a house on Parnell Drive that they planned to demolish in order for Habitat to come in and put a new structure in its’ place. The home definitely needed to be demolished, but it was occupied. As with any federal grant, there were provisions to financially compensate the occupants for relocation.
We had a session a year ago in Long Acres to explain our program and the opportunity for homeownership to current renters in the Long Acres community. Long story short, that occupant of the soon-to-be demolished house on Parnell came to our information session, applied, and in early January, relocated to Habitat Wake’s first ever total “gut-rehab” home right in her backyard.
After renting on Parnell Drive for over 30 years, Debbie is now the proud homebuyer of a beautifully renovated home on Lansing. No more leaking roof or unreliable heating source. Needless to say she is pleased. Two weeks after Debbie moved out of her rental home, the City had the home demolished and last week, we had 30-40 volunteers out on Tuesday and Wednesday to frame the new home on Parnell Drive, the final of our eight new homes in Long Acres made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through the City of Raleigh’s Community Development Department.
New homebuyer, Harmony, and her children are very excited to become the newest residents of Long Acres early this summer! Providing homeownership opportunities for those earning less than 50% of the area’s median income is a huge challenge, but it is such a JOY when all the pieces fall into place and it works! Thanks so much to everyone for your part in helping the pieces fit just right!
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