“First, I tried my luck with a traditional mortgage,” Rosemeri recalled. “And this was right about the time that COVID hit, so it was a nightmare for families who were trying to buy a home. People who had more money were offering $50k to $75k over the asking price. They were buying homes without even viewing them. I stood no chance.”

But Rosemeri refused to give up. The dream of homeownership had been an unwavering goal for many years, and behind it all was a powerful motivator: her children.

This June, we were able to welcome four homeowners into their new neighborhood in Knightdale, NC. We know how much commitment it took to get to this point, and we are so excited for these families to begin their next chapter. To our faith partners, sponsors, volunteers and staff--thank you! It's continually inspiring to see so many parts of our community come together. 

Anthony Woods had been in need of a new roof for several years.

“My roof was deteriorating,” he said. “I had several roofers come out for estimates, and I was just praying somebody would give me a break, but the price was too much for me. It got to the point where I was thinking about looking up YouTube tutorials and trying to do something on my own, because you could see light coming in through the roof. And then I got that phone call from Habitat … it was like a blessing straight out of the sky.”

“My apartment had gotten too small for us,” Kandy said. “So I was like, well, what could be next? I’m a kitchen supervisor at a restaurant, and things were going good. I felt like I was ready to buy something. I was just in the right spot.”

Kandy and her children were ready for a change. Imagine trying to squeeze four kids (including a set of energetic twin boys) into a small apartment. Space was tight, and it was time to dream bigger.

Last month, Habitat Wake had the joy of hosting a very special guest — Vandy Phal, National Director of Habitat for Humanity Cambodia.

Each year, a portion of Habitat Wake’s revenue is tithed to support global partners working to create safe, affordable housing in communities around the world. We are proud to partner with Habitat organizations in Cambodia, Honduras, and Malawi. Each group works in their unique contexts but is united by Habitat's shared vision: everyone deserves a decent place to live.

April 24, 2025, may very well be the day the Yes in God’s Back Yard movement took hold in our community. After years of discernment and planning, Greenwood Forest Baptist Church received official approval from the Cary Town Council to rezone their underutilized property for their pioneering Carr Center project, making way for 62 units of affordable housing on their campus.

We can’t believe it’s already been a week since we wrapped this year's Home Builders Blitz! From May 8–16, Habitat Wake partnered with local for-profit builders to take five homes from frame to finish—all in just seven days.

In 2023, Michelle Hester’s mom called her. She’d seen Habitat Wake's Old Poole neighborhood on the news, and it was only a few miles down the road from them. That night, she and Michelle drove through what was just the beginning of a neighborhood. On that drive, Michelle thought to herself, “This feels like something I could do.”

As a Residential Nurse Aid, mother and grandmother, Shawn is no stranger to hard work. But navigating Raleigh’s housing market as a single woman brought challenges she never expected.

When asked about the biggest obstacle she faced in her search for a home, Shawn didn’t hesitate: “Affordability.”