By Habitat Wake President & CEO, Bill Ahern

Each year, tens of thousands of people in our community come together to build Habitat homes. Donors, volunteers, faith groups, and of course, the Habitat home buyers themselves, frame walls, shingle roofs and put up siding. Our homes, which are beautiful and affordable, are the work of many hands. They are the work of people in our community who show up for their neighbors.

Our advocacy team at Habitat Wake has worked hard to collect information on North Carolina's 2020 General Assembly candidates and their stances on affordable housing.  

We hope you use this resource to 1.) find your candidates and 2.) discover how they will prioritize the needs of families in your district.

Great news! This month, Habitat for Humanity of Wake County internally promoted three members of leadership into senior leader positions.

Name: Gretta Nance    

Title/Company: Brand Director of Amelia Aesthetics and Habitat Wake 2020 Women Build Chair

Best known for / fun facts:

Raleigh voters will consider a bond for affordable housing during this year’s election. If passed, the bond will generate $80 million in funding to create housing opportunities for Raleigh residents.

Habitat Wake supports the Affordable Housing Bond and we encourage you to vote YES to increase access to affordable housing in Raleigh. 

“God is my lifeline,” says future Habitat homeowner Tabatha. “If He doesn’t tell me to move, I don’t move.” 

Tabatha credits her faith in God for carrying her and keeping her grounded even during her most challenging times. As a mother of three, she is constantly staying busy, making sure all of her children’s needs are met. Tabatha says that the hardest part right now is helping her kids keep up with their virtual learning, especially her youngest son who started kindergarten this year.

Elections give you the power to set priorities on the issues most important to you for years to come. With 1 in 4 families in Wake and Johnston counties spending too much of their income on housing and COVID-19 putting a strain on renters, homeowners, and people experiencing homelessness across the country, housing is an issue that needs attention.

Elected officials serve as our connection to government, so the candidates you vote for matter. When casting your ballot this November, know that your vote will be shaping the future of affordable housing in our community. 

Michelle Hamilton served two years as an AmeriCorps member and was just recently promoted to Construction Superintendent. To get a better glimpse into what it's like to be an AmeriCorps with Habitat Wake, we asked her a few questions. Check out this Q&A:

Where are you from? 

I am from Virginia Beach, Virginia. 

What inspired you to apply for our AmeriCorps program?

COVID-19 is creating hardship for renters and homeowners across the country. In North Carolina, 43% of renter households are at risk of eviction and there is a looming foreclosure crisis for homeowners. Negotiations are underway right now in Congress to provide additional relief to families and businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We need your help to ensure that housing relief is a top priority. 

Raleigh Proposes an Affordable Housing Bond

The City of Raleigh is facing an affordable housing crisis. With 1 in 4 families spending too much of their income on housing, neighborhoods in need of revitalization, and the cost of land on the rise, the City is looking for ways to improve home affordability in Raleigh.