Cary, NC – Affordable housing is a common subject nowadays when talking about the future of Cary and Wake County. And Habitat for Humanity is planning on building new housing in Cary, fueling further discussion. Read more
Cary, NC – Habitat for Humanity of Wake County, an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, has announced their “Passport to Habitat: Tour & Party,” taking place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 18 at the Habitat Wake ReStore, 181 High House Road in Cary, N.C.
The event will raise awareness for the Cary ReStore, as well as the affordable housing shortage in western Wake County. During the party, attendees will have the opportunity to tour the store and several local Habitat homes.
Since 1985, Habitat for Humanity of Wake County has partnered with more than 425 families, including 50 Western Wake families, to help them build and purchase safe, affordable housing, including 47 homes in Cary, four in Morrisville and one in Apex. There are eight homes currently under construction in Apex, with an additional eight planned for fall 2013. Affordable housing is still an issue, with 25,000 area families still in need of affordable homes. Partner families earn only 25 to 60 percent of the local median income, with an average of $29,000 per household, which puts them out of the range for conventional mortgages.
“Affordable housing is an issue for many families in our area, especially in the midst of a down economy,” said Kevin Campbell, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Wake County. “Our mission is to assist these families in becoming homeowners and make the public aware of the necessity of supporting an organization like Habitat. This helps us in our goal to provide a safe place to live for everyone in Wake County. Through the ‘Passport to Habitat’ event, we hope to give local residents a first-hand look at how we are making a difference in the lives of others and how they can help.”
Each Habitat home is built in partnership with homeowner families, sponsors, and volunteers. Our houses are safe, decent, affordable homes which are sold for no profit to the partner family who repays an affordable mortgage over 20 years. Homeowners attend a series of workshops on financial literacy and home maintenance so they are well prepared to be homeowners. Affordable homeownership makes new opportunities available to these families and their children, including savings, a sense of security, space to grow, and good neighbors.
Qualifying families make a significant commitment to earn a Habitat home, including a no-interest mortgage payment, at least 250 “sweat equity” hours, home ownership and budgeting classes, and a modest down payment to purchase the homes they help build. With this model in place, Habitat for Humanity of Wake County’s foreclosure rate is less than 2 percent after 28 years of building homes. The Cary ReStore sells donated building materials and furniture to help fund these homes and enable Habitat to fulfill their housing mission.
Event Info:
Passport to Habitat: Tour & Party
April 18
Habitat Wake ReStore
181 High House Road
Cary, N.C.
Tickets are $25 each, to purchase visit http://www.habitatwake.org/
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Photo by Mike Shield via HabitatWake on Facebook.
Story and photo by Hal Goodtree.
Cary, NC – I try to get to the Cary YMCA everyday. Shoot a few baskets, do a few push ups, that kind of thing. When I was leaving the Y on Wednesday morning, imagine my surprise to find a couple of dozen people framing walls out on the front lawn. Read more
Story and photo by Leslie Huffman
Cary, NC – Dorcas Ministries and Wake Habitat for Humanity ReStore, two well known service organizations in Wake County, will be celebrating a Grand Opening together. This Saturday, October 1 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. the pair of non-profits take up residence at Cary Plaza, 187 High House Road.
The Dorcas Thrift Shop and Ministries provide emergency financial assistance by paying rent and electric bills for those in need. The Thrift Shop has a food pantry and nutrition services, offers child care assistance, literacy scholarships, and job hunting assistance. And all these services are provided for low-income and needy families right here in Cary.
The revenue generated by the Thrift Shop provides 85% of all the income needed to keep services available to folks in crisis. The Dorcas Thrift Shop generates an annual revenue of almost $600,000 which is reinvested into the neediest members of our community.
“The Dorcas Shop was outgrowing its space in 2008 when the board of directors embarked on a feasibility study and decided to look for a larger property, with the vision to eventually create a non-profit center,” said Howard Manning, Executive Director of Dorcas Ministries, of the bold move.
At the new Cary Plaza Center, the Thrift Shop retail space will double. Within the first year of occupancy, Dorcas forecasts a 25% increase in sales revenue bringing the annual income from the shop to $750,000.
The Habitat Wake ReStore accepts donations of new and used building materials from companies and individuals to sell at discounted prices. The ReStore generates revenue to build new Habitat homes in Wake County.
“In late winter, the Habitat for Humanity of Wake County Executive Director, Kevin Campbell, began conversations with us about the possibility of opening a Habitat ReStore in Cary. The fit was perfect,” said Manning, noting that sometimes people drop off items at Dorcas that are more fitting for Habitat and vice versa. “Now folks will have one-stop drop-off and one-stop shopping.”
The ReStore accepts donations of usable and structurally-sound building materials. All donations are tax-deductible.
The Grand Opening, a public event, will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday with a Ceremony and Ribbon Cutting. During the Grand Opening Celebration, guests who drop off items for resale at either store will be entered into a raffle for prizes.
For links to more than 40 Cary service non-profits, visit the CaryCitizen Non-Profits Page.
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Events on CaryCitizen are sponsored in part by Great Harvest Bread on Maynard Road in Cary.