Founded in 1976, Habitat for Humanity (Habitat) is a world leader in addressing the issues of poverty housing. Habitat operates through partnership housing, centering on those in need of safe adequate shelter working side by side with volunteers to build simple, decent homes. Habitat Wake owners include refugee families fleeing religious and other forms of persecution, immigrants struggling to build a new life in America and individuals and families rising out of homelessness, poverty or currently living in substandard or unaffordable housing.
By providing a hand-up, Habitat Wake empowers homeowners to build personal wealth, which is vital to moving out of poverty. The homes are purchased by these families, with an agreement that they will invest 250 hours of sweat equity, regardless of race, religion or background, at no profit to Habitat.
FPC’s Mission Budget provides annual financial support for 2 builds and pre-pandemic, the FPC congregation provided 5-6 volunteers each scheduled workday. Because of COVID-19, we have not been able to provide lunch or construction volunteers. Stay tuned for workday volunteer information. Habitat is currently working on a faith community re-engagement plan.
In Fall 2020, we joined the Presbyterian Coalition to build a single family home in the Dowling Ridge subdivision. On Wednesday, April 28 at Noon via Zoom, there will be a virtual dedication of the Methodist, Presbyterian and Apostles faith coalitions and the 3 new homes. Our very own Jerrie Dearborn and Judy Rogers completed three beautiful quilts for these new home owners and will be on hand to make the presentation, along with Nancy Crew, FPC Habitat co-coordinator.
Habitat for Humanity 2020 Spring Build: The “Building the Beloved Townhome Community” project brings 7 faith coalitions together from across the county (Baptist, Downtown, Episcopal, Spring Apostles, Interfaith, Northern Wake, Orthodox) to build 6 townhome units in the Abbington Ridge subdivision. First Presbyterian Church is part of the Downtown Coalition.
The townhomes are making great progress! They are in the process of being trimmed out and are receiving final inspections (hopefully certificates of occupancy will come soon!). Some landscaping has been installed. Check out the progress!
Habitat Wake is excited to introduce their new, interactive toolkit, Forging Ahead on Affordable Housing: Knowing our Past Makes Us Powerful. This tremendous resource, which the Building the Beloved Townhome Community participants had a sneak peek on March 4, is now available to everyone. Stay tuned for educational opportunities connected with this resource. Visit this link for more information: www.habitatwake.org/were-together »
Habitat is currently looking for volunteers that possess construction experience, skilled labor, or feel very comfortable on a Habitat worksite to become Force of Habitat volunteers. For more information, please contact Nancy Crew at nrbcrew@gmail.com or (919) 786-1933.
Thanks for supporting Habitat Wake and affordable housing!