Reflection presented at the kick-off ceremony for the Spring Flowers Place Faith Build on February 24, 2024. Written by: Rev. Asa Bell, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church

As Easter arrives, it serves as a poignant reminder of renewal, hope, and the transformative power of love. At Habitat for Humanity, we embody these principles every day as we strive to alleviate the immense affordable housing shortage in Wake County and Johnston counties and make affordable homeownership a reality with families. As valued partners, your dedication and passion are instrumental in driving this mission forward, and we are immensely grateful for your ongoing support.

Last Friday, donors, volunteers and homebuyers came together for our annual Habitat for Humanity Women Build. This event kicked off 12 week-long celebration of women and allies joining together to build a Habitat home.  

Since 2009, this event has provided the opportunity for women and supporters to take a proactive step in serving their community by funding and constructing an affordable Habitat home.

“In a word, life as a homeowner is just better.” 

At Habitat Wake, our mission is to build homes, communities and hope. Going beyond the bricks and mortar, we partner with homebuyers to build not just homes, but also a sense of stability and belonging—or, as Habitat homeowner Keena puts it, a feeling of “better.”

On a chilly morning in January, volunteers faced freezing weather to attend this year’s Advocacy Ambassador Training. Advocacy is another strategy that Habitat uses to combat the affordable housing crisis. Through the Advocacy Ambassador program, volunteers are given the skills and tools to use their voices to stand up for affordable housing in their communities. Learn more about how you can become an Advocacy Ambassador here.

At Habitat Wake, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a day on, rather than a day off. Several faith groups joined forces for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Together, they built and raised walls for affordable homes in our community, embodying Dr. King's vision of the beloved community.

The event kicked off Habitat Wake’s annual Beloved Build, which for more than 10 years has brought faith groups together to put into practice Dr. King’s concept of the beloved community: an integrated, just society that is the ideal expression of the Christian faith.

RALEIGH, NC (Jan. 11, 2023) – Publix Super Markets Charities (PSMC) is donating $100,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Wake County’s home preservation program as part of a nation-wide effort to support organizations that provide housing and shelter services, including 125 Habitat for Humanity affiliates. 

The affordable housing crisis in our community is urgent. Habitat Wake is committed to innovating to meet the scale of need, including through systemic policy change across the housing continuum. Every year, Habitat Wake sets policy priorities that reflect the most important housing issues we need to tackle as a community.

Homeownership is a distant goal for many in Wake and Johnston counties, where 1 in 4 families sacrifice necessities like groceries, healthcare and education just to afford housing. As a single mother, homebuyer Lyndsay understands these challenges all too well. With the support of the Habitat Wake community, she was finally able to build and purchase her own home. 

On November 10, Habitat Wake celebrated the veterans in our community with our 2023 Veterans Build! Thanks to the Clayton High School Navy JROTC for presenting the colors at our kickoff ceremony. We appreciate Credit Suisse, MetLife, Builders Mutual and Eaton for their support and time spent volunteering.

This build allowed veterans to come together with a veteran homebuyer as we built and raised the walls for a home at our Old Poole Place community. Happy Veterans Day, and thank you to all our brave veterans for your service.