Last night, we celebrated with Jane & Yabesh, the dedication of their new home at White Oak Villas in Apex. What a story of triumph they had to tell.
Five years ago, they won an “immigration lottery” in their homeland of Kenya to immigrate legally to the U.S. This had been a goal of theirs for literally years so that their four children could receive the best education possible.
Last week Habitat Wake had the benefit of working with Coastal Federal Credit Union on the groundbreaking ceremony of 4911 Werriebee Drive in Raleigh. What was so special about this event was that Coastal is the Exclusive sponsor on this Habitat home. As the only exclusive sponsor this year, Coastal Federal Credit Union raised $100,000 for the purchase of the land and the construction of this home - an amazing contribution and achievement.
Last Tuesday, Habitat Wake dedicated the Holloway family home on Parnell Street. Deonna Holloway chose to build in the Long Acres neighborhood of Raleigh. This effort is part of a Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative (NRI) that is committed to bettering the communities in which our homeowners live.
Habitat Wake was recognized, along with four other Triangle Home Builders, for our excellence in green home building at an award reception on August 1. Green building is especially important to Habitat homebuyer partners because lower utility costs and better indoor air quality improve our construction of safe, affordable housing.
In May, Marva Robinson stood with Jim Wells from the Lion’s Club and held a flame to her mortgage, dropping it on the pavement behind the Habitat Wake ReStore as staff and Board members applauded. “It feels good,” she says about paying off her mortgage. “I’ve achieved another goal. It was hard sometimes, but when I say I’m going do something, I’m going to do it!”
For more than four decades, Debbie rented a house in the Long Acres neighborhood located off Poole Road in Raleigh. The home was substandard in many areas, including electricity and plumbing. Debbie was more than ready to purchase a home of her own. In fact, about 10 years ago, one of Debbie’s friends encouraged her to apply for a home with Habitat. But it wasn’t until Habitat planned to build in the same neighborhood where she has lived nearly her whole life that Debbie finally applied.
As a single father to two teenagers, Ricky says his kids are his inspiration. “My son and daughter are my priority,” he says. “I want to leave something behind for them when I am gone, something my parents weren’t able to do.”
