This month, Habitat for Humanity of Durham is celebrating its 25th anniversary and the construction of more than 250 homes in the Durham area.
Habitat for Humanity provides low-income families with affordable, safe and decent housing, free of interest. Since its foundation in 1985, Habitat for Humanity of Durham has grown steadily. It competed construction on its first house in 1987 and proceeded to finish its first 100 houses by 2000, according to the organization’s website.
The effort combats housing issues in the county, where foreclosure starts were up 16 percent January to August 2010 compared to last year, The Herald Sun reported.
“Habitat House is not a giveaway program,” said Jeanette Stoltzfus, communications manager of Durham Habitat. “[Habitat] is the builder as well as the banker, it works with its homeowners.”
Rather than giving out homes, the organization works in conjunction with the community. Families receiving the homes are required to put in “sweat equity” hours during which they help with construction and attend budgeting classes. Recipients of homes are also expected to maintain steady employment, according to the website.
Many of the homes are concentrated in the neighborhoods surrounding Duke, including the Southwest Central Durham neighborhood and Walltown.
Habitat also creates significant relationships within Durham.
“I think Habitat has been one of those social services in Durham that has made an enormous contribution to bringing people together of all types, sizes and socioeconomic levels because everybody understands homeownership and the difference it makes in the community,” said Sam Miglarese, director of community engagement at Duke.
Duke Habitat for Humanity, a student group, works closely with Durham Habitat. More than 100 Duke students are currently involved with Duke Habitat and do everything from working at builds to tutoring the children of homeowners.
Junior Annelise Mesler, co-president of Duke Habitat, noted the importance of students getting involved on the local scale and creating relationships with the Durham community.
“We’re all neighbors, and neighbors help one another,” Mesler said. “Habitat helps bridge that gap between Duke’s campus and Durham.”
Besides raising awareness for housing issues and community involvement, Duke Habitat tries to fund and build a new house every other year. The build for its newest house kicked off Oct. 2.
But as the need for affordable housing grows, Habitat continues to look for more assistance.
“There’s always room for more volunteers, for more ideas,” Stolzfus said. “There’s always room for somebody to get involved.”
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