Habitat Wake’s annual Veterans Build is aimed at highlighting the challenges faced by the veteran community in accessing affordable housing.
According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, 24 percent of veterans over the age of 55 are cost burdened, meaning they pay too much of their income toward housing at the expense of other necessities such as groceries, healthcare and education. Older veterans are also more likely to have a disability, which may require home modifications, health and other supportive services as they age.
For veterans who meet our program qualifications, Habitat Wake offers mortgage rates that are lower than those that the Veterans Administration is able to offer. In addition to applying to purchase a Habitat Wake home, veterans can find supportive services through our home preservation program (in partnership with Rebuilding Together of the Triangle), employment opportunities, and volunteer opportunities.
Want to support our Veterans Build and other CSR builds? If your company would like to sponsor, or you are part of a veteran’s group and are interested in partnering, please reach out to Dan McHugh.
Habitat for Humanity of Wake County launched its inaugural Veterans Build in November with a home preservation project in Willow Spring. The project included fencing in the yard of a local veteran so he can provide a safe space for a service dog.
MetLife Foundation awarded a grant to Habitat Wake for the project and MetLife employees served as volunteers. Comerica Bank also joined as a Partner Sponsor, building on Habitat Wake's Maybrook Townhomes to raise awareness for affordable housing solutions for veterans.
Veterans Build is one of several Community Social Responsibility (CSR) projects aimed at providing opportunities for Habitat Wake and the Wake and Johnston County communities to intentionally invest in those who have historically experienced challenges in accessing and maintaining affordable housing.
These CSR projects take place throughout the year and include Women Build, Pride Build, Beloved Build and others. These projects highlight the need for housing at a critical time: Wake County faces a shortage of nearly 60,000 housing units affordable to families with low to moderate incomes. One in four local families is cost-burdened, and 28,000 families are behind on their rent due to the long-term impact of Covid-19 and our booming housing market.
With our CSR builds, we envision change that removes barriers to housing for all of us, and specifically addresses the harms that these communities have historically had to overcome.
Want to support our Veterans Build and other CSR builds? If your company would like to sponsor, or you are part of a veteran’s group and are interested in partnering, please reach out to Dan McHugh.