For Sharon Watson, the past year has been a battle for stability. A mother, grandmother, and dedicated employee at the Department of Health and Human Services, she has spent much of her time navigating the stress of housing insecurity. Now, as she nears the completion of Habitat’s rigorous homeownership program, she reflects on how this journey has been deeply tied to her health and how having a stable home will transform her future.
As Habitat for Humanity of Wake County celebrates 40 years of building homes, communities and hope, one long-standing partnership stands out: the Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter at NC State University. From its beginnings, the chapter has been a strong force in engaging students by spreading awareness and facilitating connections to Habitat’s mission through transformative projects.
A Vision Takes Root
This year Habitat Wake turns 40. In 1985, while serving as a seminary intern at Millbrook Baptist Church in Raleigh, the pastor gave me the freedom to help form a local Habitat organization as the focus of my internship.
God was already at work. Various groups were gathering to pursue a housing ministry, including a group in Wake Forest and Franklin County that was pursuing the Habitat model.
As we reflect on 40 years of history at Habitat Wake, we find ourselves contemplating the power of “firsts.”
Those first hopeful conversations. The first home built to completion.
Another landmark worth celebrating: the first church to fully and independently sponsor a Habitat Wake home — and the homeowner whose voice helped shape the future of our mission.
The U.S. is currently short an estimated 800,000 homes attainable for low-and-moderate-income homebuyers. This shortage is just one of many factors contributing to the housing crisis facing our country. In many states, Habitat for Humanity is the only affordable homebuilder at work, making our role more crucial than ever.
Looking for love? You just might find it at Habitat Wake. We have a bit of a knack for bringing people together.
This Black History Month, we're honoring the incredible Black housing leaders whose achievements paved the way for greater access to affordable housing. These advocates, policymakers, and community organizers worked tirelessly to break down barriers to homeownership, fight discriminatory housing practices and create more equitable communities.
For more than two decades, Jacques and Dinah carried the dream of home -- a place of safety, stability, and belonging. But that dream was far from easy to reach. Their journey began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
"It all started from a prayer request." -- Habitat Wake's first Board Chair, John Wilson.
John Wilson had recently met a woman in Raleigh who was living in a tenant home on the edge of a larger property. "The house had no running water, and the windows were plastic. It was cold, and she was just in a terrible situation," John said. It was 1984.
