Building Better Homes, Building Better Lives
Crime in the Long Acres neighborhood of Raleigh was bad and getting worse by the day. Drug dealers and abandoned houses were part of the daily landscape. But all that changed when Habitat for Humanity of Wake County got involved in 2010.
The nonprofit ministry spearheaded a partnership to revitalize the area, and by 2012 real change was underfoot with the neighborhood experiencing a 52% drop in crime. Long Acres is one of the many success stories that Habitat for Humanity of Wake County has produced in the Triangle area of North Carolina. The nonprofit’s goal is simple: build safe, decent, affordable homes so that low-income residents can achieve self-reliance.
Since the Wake County chapter was founded in 1986, the nonprofit has partnered with more than 5,000 volunteers annually to build homes for 410 deserving families. The foreclosure rate of new homeowners assisted by Habitat is less than 2 percent.
It’s a mission that’s changing lives in Wake County and around the globe, one home at a time. Since 2004, the John William Pope Foundation has been a partner with the ministry.
Getting approved
Securing affordable, safe housing can be a challenge for low-income residents in Wake County.
Applicants are required to show proof of income and go through a series of interviews, including a visit by Habitat staff to their current home to meet family members and assess the family budget. Prospective homeowners must prove that their current living conditions are overcrowded, substandard, too expensive, or unsafe. Once approved, families are required to put in 250 “sweat equity” volunteer hours, working on their own home or the home of a fellow Habitat applicant.
Family support workshops that prepare individuals for the challenges of homeownership are another critical part of the process. Coursework includes tips for improving credit scores, financial planning, home maintenance, home security, and conflict resolution skills.
As an added bonus, Habitat Wake also operates a ReStore, which sells donated and used building materials that are similar to those offered by a mainline home improvement store. Proceeds benefit the housing mission.
A global calling
For every house that Habitat volunteers build in Wake County, the nonprofit commits resources to build one in Honduras. The Wake County chapter has started sending teams to Honduras to help with construction.
In total, nearly 80 percent of Habitat’s work is done outside the United States. Since Habitat was founded in 1976, it has built over 400,000 homes and served over 1 million families (a total of 5 million people).