Thanks to the News & Observer for a great op-ed, by Chapel Hill attorney James Bartow, on the limited range of options that municipalities in North Carolina have to promote affordable housing.  The op-ed appeared on November 20.

Habitat for Humanity has long held a belief that all of God’s children (meaning absolutely everyone) have a right to simple, decent, affordable places to live.  In heated up markets, affordability falls prey to the market and many are left out.

What a troubling report in this morning’s News & Observer, citing a 23% increase in the number of homeless students in Wake County public schools.  2,376 students!  That’s enough to fill an entire high school!  Please do all you can to help Habitat Wake provide affordable housing and let’s not wait until these kids finish school or drop out—the need is urgent!

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article47067030.html

It is exciting that the local partnership we’ve enjoyed at Habitat Wake for years has now become a national partnership to benefit Habitat affiliates across the country!  PlyGem, a Cary-based manufacturer of exterior building products announced yesterday that they would supply their products (windows, siding, stone, etc.) to 300 Habitat for Humanity homes across the country in the 2016 Home Builders Blitz.  They also announced a marketing campaign with country music star, Alan Jackson.

Recently, I had the blessing of travelling with NC State student, Habitat campus leader, and Habitat Wake board member Sarah Paluskiewicz and Raleigh ReStore manager, Eric Moe, to attend a conversation on leadership between Habitat for Humanity International CEO, Jonathan Reckford and Wake Forest University President Nathan Hatch.

For Amy and Joel Huenaman, volunteering with Habitat Wake is entirely different from their first time, two decades ago.

“Our first time volunteering we were in Cary and we spent most of our time in ‘stand around mode’ trying to figure out what to do, says Joel. “Now that we are more experienced we need less direction; we are able to take more initiative”

The industrious couple first learned about Habitat for Humanity through their church, Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian. Now Amy and Joel have regularly worked as volunteers for 2 years.

Very good article from The Independent on the need for affordable housing in Raleigh and what the City is planning to do about it:

Habitat for Humanity International released its annual Shelter Report On World Habitat Day, October 5.  This year’s report entitled, Level the Field: Ending gender inequality in land rights.  Here is a brief synopsis of the report:

“The need for housing does not end at your county line.” -Frank Reed, Habitat for Humanity International

Lisa Hughet spent more than two decades conducting corporate and sales training for a large technology company and a multi-national pharmaceutical company. Now she spends her free time training Habitat volunteers to swing a hammer and use a caulk gun.

"There's nothing worth more, that could ever come close 

No thing can compare--you're our living hope