Open enrollment for Habitat Greensboro’s Homeownership program opened on Feb. 15. Applications are available online at habitatgreensboro.org or at the Gate City ReStore, with applications considered on a rolling basis.
This is not a giveaway. The Homeownership Program helps traditionally marginalized families buy affordable houses in the city. Applicants must meet minimum household income requirements — between $25-$35,000 a year, depending on size — and provide documents such as a current lease, Social Security cards for all household members and statements of income for all household members along with the application. Homes are custom built, one-story single-family homes and one and two-story townhomes with 2-5 bedrooms and 2-3 bathrooms.
Applicants are selected on three criteria: a need for adequate housing, a willingness to partner with Habitat Greensboro and the ability to pay an affordable mortgage. The program is open to all households who meet these guidelines — Habitat does not discriminate for any reasons related to race, sex, national origin, religion, familial status, handicap, or color.
“Last year, out of more than 400 applicants, only 10 people met the guidelines,” said Christine Byrd, Director of Development and Communications of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro. “Many applicants either didn’t answer all the questions in the application or include all the attachments.”
She said, “we want to walk alongside them on their journey.”
The process can be daunting — after being accepted, applicants must take required homeownership courses on budgeting and financial literacy, household maintenance and simple repairs. The families must also put in 250 hours of “sweat equity” that could include pitching in on the construction of the house or helping out with other Habitat Greensboro projects. All classes count towards the required 250 hours, and every adult in the household can contribute.
But in the end, they are able to purchase a new or refurbished home with a mortgage not to exceed 30 percent of household income.
It’s an important program, Byrd said, because “very few builders build starter homes anymore, and starter homes in Greensboro do not come at starter home prices; $200,000 is not a starter home.”
And she reminded that there has been historic discrimination in the real estate and finance industries against people of color, non-English speakers and other marginalized communities.
More details, instructions, FAQs and the application itself can be found at Habitat Greensboro’s website, habitatgreensboro.org.
“I know there are a lot of people in Greensboro who have interest in this, who probably don’t think they qualify,” Byrd said. “But chances are, we can help.”
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Hello Friends,
As an advocate for affordable housing & a recipient of the 2018 Habitat for Humanity Scott Fleming award it saddens me to send this email. However, after reading the attributes I displayed upon receiving that award. I wouldn’t be true to who I am and the man the award is named after if I didn’t.
Everyone who knows me knows that I love helping others. I believe part of my mission on this earth is to serve. Over the years I have been enthralled in several issues that matter to me…Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro has had my heart for a long time. I believe in their vision & mission statement so much that I have
* purchased a home to raise my family.
* Board of directors for 2 terms,
* Homeowners Services committee 2 terms
* Speaker at their 30th anniversary event and other events that encouraged donations and homeownership.
* Recipient of the HHGG 2018 Scott Fleming Spirit Award
* Voice of Women Chair & Co Chair.
* Poplar Ridge community leader
* Volunteer, and so on……
All of this gave me the opportunity to travel to Raleigh, NC several times & Washington DC to advocate and lobby for affordable housing on so many levels.
Today, I stand with my community and I ask others to stand with me & the 67 Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro homes built in the Poplar Ridge Neighborhood in east Greensboro that were built using substandard building practices (no gutters & poor or no grading). Several homes in this community are experiencing standing water, weak & failing floors, erosion of property, and the presence of mold & mildew in homes and in crawl spaces & folks are getting sick. Within this community lies (4) streets; Sharing Terrace, Dan Hughes Ct., McKee-Huger Drive & Joy Ann Terrace.
Habitat for Humanity, it’s current Board of directors(per David) and the City of Greensboro have been notified of these issues and asked to help come up with a comprehensive plan to address the rampant grading issues and the side effects of what the grading issues are causing to what should be safe, sustainable and healthy, affordable housing.
Habitat’s current CEO, David Kolosieke, with COO, Ruthie Richardson-Robinson conducted an assessment of these issues and acknowledged the substandard work when our homes were built. At our previous meetings, and in one-on-one meetings, David pledged to rectify these problems, a strong desire to restore our faith in Habitat. Regrettably, despite these assurances, we have not witnessed any concrete actions being taken. David is a general contractor and Ruthie is an engineer, both are qualified to make the assessments. This is a serious matter, as the current Construction Director, Justin Heyward, as additionally stated some homes would deteriorate to the point of floors caving in. We have been told that the community was not graded properly when it was built and we cannot fix our homes individually and this is a neighborhood fix that must be systematically executed. Over the years many of us have tried to remedy the issues as part of regular homeowner maintenance.
On September 7th & 9th we as a community began discussing our issues with Habitat’s CEO David Kolosieke, Director of Construction Justin Heyward, & Director of Homeowner Services Andrew Albe. Things seemed to go okay. Homeowners addressed their concerns and Habitat’s CEO came with a plan & stressed how important it was to begin work because of the growing mold and the winter months fast approaching. (I have all of this recorded)
It seems Habitat has since back away from their promises to rectify the issues. It is of utmost importance that we hold Habitat accountable for their commitments. The collective voice of every member in Poplar Ridge is valuable in this endeavor. We have fulfilled our financial obligations by paying or still paying mortgages, and it is imperative that we ensure Habitat fulfills their responsibilities as well.
Affordable housing should never be substandard housing & should always be safe. We have chronically ill individuals living in our community and we would like a solution. You’re receiving this email because you are a supporter, a sponsor or a board member of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro who believes in the Habitat vision & mission. A mission and vision they are not currently operating in.
Our next community event ( Conversation & Coffee)will be held outside November 11th at 11am in Poplar Ridge. We will be discussing how we move forward as homeowners.
sidenote: Poplar Ridge isn’t the only Habitat Greensboro community with substandard building issues. A lot of other Habitat Greensboro communities are coming to me as well. I hope that I can get your support in this matter.
Poplar Ridge Neighborhood,Greensboro NC
ChesKesha Cunningham Dockery
(336) 707-9368