To the members of our beloved Wake and Johnston communities,
Habitat Wake stands in solidarity with all those seeking justice for the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and the many others who have suffered and died due to racialized police violence.
For many of our colleagues, homeowners and community partners, these deaths are not part of one bad week in America — they are a pernicious and pervasive fact of life for Black people. At Habitat Wake, we believe that Black lives matter. As a Christian organization, we believe that all people are created equal in the sight of God, and we are constantly working to ensure that we are holding true to this belief.
Our organization seeks to bring together people with different racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds to build homes, uplift communities and restore hope. We understand that we cannot build our way out of this deep-rooted problem. However, we do believe that by building homes, we are providing the families we serve the opportunity to build strong foundations, and affordable homeownership has positive impacts for generations to come.
Our values embody the goal of building walls to tear down barriers. Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu said, “As the walls of a Habitat house go up, so many more invisible walls come down and new hope is built in the city.”
Desmond Tutu also said, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” Our deepest condolences go out to the family of Mr. George Floyd and to those who have lost loved ones due to similar circumstances. Systemic racism is deeply embedded in our society, and to confront it is a painful, difficult but much-needed process. We remain committed to doing our part to ensure equal opportunity and treatment for all. At Habitat Wake, we embrace our responsibility in addressing the systemic issues that negatively impact economic mobility and advancement for people of color.
We are praying for our world and standing in support with our community partners as we continue to focus on creating a world where everyone has a decent place to call home.