Habitat Homeowner

For Sharon Watson, the past year has been a battle for stability. A mother, grandmother, and dedicated employee at the Department of Health and Human Services, she has spent much of her time navigating the stress of housing insecurity. Now, as she nears the completion of Habitat’s rigorous homeownership program, she reflects on how this journey has been deeply tied to her health and how having a stable home will transform her future.

For more than two decades, Jacques and Dinah carried the dream of home -- a place of safety, stability, and belonging. But that dream was far from easy to reach. Their journey began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

What does Thanksgiving mean to you? For many of us, the holiday brings to mind the "firsts" that make a house feel like home—your first time hosting loved ones around the table, the first holiday season in a new space, or the first memories of settling your kids into the room where they’ll grow up.

For Eugenia, this year marks all of those precious milestones. And this week? Her first Thanksgiving in her very own home. After closing on her house this fall, Eugenia is stepping into a season of gratitude and new beginnings.

“I’m Second Lieutenant Bridget Pittman-Blackwell, and I’m a future Habitat Wake homeowner.”

Bridget hadn’t always envisioned a path in the military. "The thought would never have crossed my mind until I heard a briefing on my college campus," she recalls. "Listening to the benefits and the long-term goals soldiers had achieved — that was something I wanted for myself and my family.”

Lester stepped into the backyard of the lot in Johnston County that will soon become his forever home. His eyes widened as he took in the expanse of space. This Clayton neighborhood offers particularly large yards for Habitat Wake homes, and to Lester, the possibilities were endless. "I could get a whole garden out here," he said, imagining the rows of fresh produce that could fill the space. "I work for the food bank in Raleigh, and I used to teach urban farming classes."

Nigeria McMichael is a Habitat Wake homebuyer and self-proclaimed "people person." As she nears the finish line of her sweat equity hours and prepares to close on her home, Nigeria has been spending time volunteering at the Raleigh ReStore. While working, she couldn’t help but make friends—and an unlikely connection blossomed when she met Beth, a fellow volunteer.

With a clipboard in hand and a smile lighting up her face, Ayofemi stepped out into the sunshine at Old Poole Place. Today was a special milestone—her lot selection day.

"I'm really excited and at the same time, it's a lot to choose from, you know?" Ayofemi shared. "It's my first home. They're all beautiful homes. It's just going to be what's the right fit for me and my family"

With countless voices weighing in on millennial homeownership challenges and trends, we wanted to spotlight one individual's story. Meet Mary! She's a copywriter, textile artist, and one of our brand new partner homebuyers! We were lucky enough to connect with her about her experiences. Here's what she had to say: 

What challenges did you face pursuing homeownership?