Recently, Habitat Greensboro dedicated four single-family homes in the Willow Oaks Community.

Attendees gathered in the abundant shade of the gorgeous oak trees in the Willow Oaks Community Park to celebrate the dedication of four homes being built for April, Breyonna, Kelli, and Terri on Friday morning. This ceremony marks the conclusion of a long journey to homeownership for these homebuyers.

Habitat Greensboro Board Chair, Ben Brown, opened the ceremony, sharing, “The beauty of Habitat is everybody plays a working part, including the families. Some people don’t realize that families spend sweat equity, as we call it. In other words, they’re putting the hours in to build their own home. Once that’s done, they pay the mortgage … We have wonderful families. I think as you listen to each of the four families that we’re going to be honoring today, you will find that these folks are hardworking, committed, have a good vision for their lives, and a good plan to raise their kids in a safe environment and to do good things in life.”

The partnership of the Greensboro community, area businesses, faith communities, and civic organizations enables Habitat Greensboro to support families in their journey to homeownership. The larger community is integral to this work, whether through financial contributions or volunteer hours spent on the build site.

Representing this broader community of support, several build sponsors shared why they support affordable housing through partnership with Habitat Greensboro. Brittany Midyette, Senior Vice President, Senior Portfolio Manager, Wells Fargo, shared, “These homes represent what every family hopes to achieve – a quality, affordable place to call their own and create a better future for their family. For three decades, Wells Fargo has proudly collaborated with Habitat for Humanity to help build and repair affordable homes. Volunteering alongside local affiliates and homeowners has always been a huge source of pride for our employees, and it was a pleasure to support this home build, which is a labor of love.”

While a representative of Wells Fargo, Midyette also represented the fourteen financial and lending institutions that supported Habitat Greensboro’s building efforts in Willow Oaks.

Following Midyette, Chad Chimiak, Vice President of Pella Windows & Doors of NC and Southwest Virginia, shared, “Pella’s been part of Habitat for about ten years. And I learned a long time ago it’s not a handout. It’s a hand-up. It’s so many people working together for this, including the homeowners, and that’s incredible to see. Homeownership is a dream of so many people. To live in a safe, affordable community and to raise a family is priceless. Our mission statement at Pella is to improve the lives of those we serve. And I think Habitat stands for that 100%.”

The celebration of improving lives through homeownership continued with the introduction of the future homeowners for the four homes being dedicated. First up was April, who shared, “I just want to say that this means a lot to me. It is heartwarming to see that everyone came together for me to accomplish this goal of mine.” Having grown up in what is now Willow Oaks but was previously Morningside Homes, April further shared, “It’s good to be able to come back home. So, I want to say thank you to everyone who contributed, who sponsored, who volunteered, who donated their time.”

April, who is a Certified Medical Assistant, will soon purchase her home, which is built on land sponsored in memory of Palmer Shelburne, a Greensboro cardiologist, and long-time Habitat Greensboro volunteer, on a street named after Greensboro’s first African American cardiologist, Charles Harshaw.

Next up was future homeowner Breyonna, who shared, “I just want to thank God for allowing this day to be possible. I want to thank all the sponsors and everyone who has supported us through this journey. I look forward to starting my family traditions in my new home.”

For Breyonna, giving her two young boys, who are six and seven, a stable home is her top priority. As a child, she moved frequently until 8th grade, when she moved in with her grandmother. “I changed schools almost every year and didn’t get to establish long-lasting friendships at school or in my neighborhood,” Breyonna recalls. “I’m so excited for my boys and me to feel a place of permanence where we can hold family gatherings, spend holidays together, and have cookouts and create life-long memories…a place to call our own.”

Future homeowner Kelli was next to share, offering, “We are so thankful for this opportunity at homeownership, building equity and generational wealth. It has been a long, character-building process. I appreciate the physical labor put into these houses, building every day. Every day the volunteers and staff have a cheerful spirit, which is amazing. I will never forget all the labor and effort they put into these homes. Thank you to everyone that’s had a part in this endeavor.”

Kelli has long dreamed of owning a home for stability and to “settle her spirit.” Having experienced homelessness in 11th grade when her mother had to retire early and lost their home to foreclosure, Kelli was committed to creating a different life for herself and her daughter Monet. After graduating as her class valedictorian at Winston-Salem State University, Kelli completed her MSW at UNC-Chapel Hill and Ph.D. work with Walden University. She now works as a Family Advocate, but student loan debt has kept her from realizing her dream until she learned about Habitat Greensboro’s Homeownership Program. Now, she looks forward to purchasing her own home.

Last, future homeowner Terri shared, “I just want to thank you so much for allowing me and my family the opportunity to grow in a space. To have a house that is now our home, our first house. I’m just grateful for this opportunity.”

A proud Greensboro native and graduate of Grimsley High School, Terri learned the value of homeownership from her grandmother, with whom she lived during high school. Following graduation, Terri pursued her love of visual arts at Guilford College, where she obtained her teaching degree. Since graduating four years ago, this talented mother of three (Taryn, Phillip, and Coi) has shared her passion for art as an elementary school art teacher. With the help of the Greensboro community, Terri, who gives so generously in the classroom helping children realize their dreams, will also realize her dream of homeownership!

The ceremony concluded with Habitat Greensboro’s traditional blessing of the homes, after which attendees had the opportunity to tour the homes that will soon be filled with families, love, and laughter.

Of the day, Midyette may have summed it up best when she shared, “Becoming a homeowner is really one of the proudest and most important moments of someone’s life. And I know we’re all looking forward to helping more individuals and families start their new journey as a homeowner.” Indeed, Habitat Greensboro’s goal is to help families start and successfully navigate their journey as homeowners.

Many thanks to the generous sponsors who made these builds possible:  Alamance Presbyterian, Allegacy Federal Credit Union, Allen Tate, American National, Andrews Insurance Services Inc., Arch MI, Bank of America, Bank of Oak Ridge, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Brady Services, Buffalo Presbyterian, Calvary Christian Center, Carter Bank and Trust, CBRE Triad, Centenary UMC, Cheryl Tumlin, Coldwell Banker Advantage, Columbia Forest Products, CoreLogic, First Bank, First Baptist Church – Greensboro, First Christian Church, First Citizens Bank, First Lutheran Church, First National Bank, First Presbyterian, Glenwood Presbyterian Church, Greensboro Regional Realtors Foundation, Guilford Park Presbyterian, Individual Donor Agnes Hughes, Lindley Park Baptist Church, Monticello UCC Women’s Fellowship Club, Muirs Chapel UMC, Muslim Community, Pella Windows, Pinnacle Financial Partners, Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, Providence Baptist Church, Rehobeth UMC, St. Andrews Episcopal Church, St. Benedict Catholic Church, St. Paul Presbyterian Church, St. Pius X, Smith Marketing Inc./Allen Tate Realtors, Starmount Presbyterian Church, Temple Emanuel, Tencarva, Truist, Truliant Federal Credit Union, and Tyler Redhead & McAlister, Wells Fargo Builds, West Market Street UMC, Westminster Presbyterian Church, and Westover Church.