CityView Magazine

Photography by David Minnick On the day of her home's dedication, members of Habitat for Humanity's Board of Directors, staff and volunteers along with friends and family gathered on Frances Wingate's new porch. past May, the 34 seniors at Fayetteville Academy spent their Senior Week volunteering. Arzu Patel, a Fayetteville Academy volunteer, said partnering with Habitat for Humanity was an incredible experience. "We as a senior class were brought closer to each other and the community through hard work and service, and the memories from it will last a lifetime," he said, echoing sentiments of many volunteers. A second program brings in teams assembled by Chaplain Herb Lemkey of Fort Bragg to help renovate existing homes acquired for new homeowners. Soldiers help with demolition and removal of debris and then with various stages of re-building. It's a way for them to learn about and give back to their civilian community. Teams from Ft. Bragg have included female soldiers for the women's builds, engineers for demolitions and one team composed of only lieutenants. Chaplain Lemkey would like to bring together a group of Army couples to work on a house. Such activity 36 | August • 2013 "supports the soldier's family and allows them to contribute as well." Donor groups are the mainstay of Habitat, from churches pledging money to businesses offering goods and expertise. Non-profit organizations provide financial backing which adds up to about $86,000 for one home. Wingate's house was funded in part by the Fayetteville Regional Association of Realtors and Homes4NC. Finally, there are sweat equity hours. Five hundred hours of work are performed by every Habitat family. Extended family may contribute work hours. Children can participate, earning hours for good grades and exceptional recognition at school. It's an important feature of the program that expands the family's personal investment in their home. Director Griffin shared that Habitat for Humanity cures a problem by taking people from living in a tax cost situation to a tax pay situation. Most applicants receive some kind of assistance or are in some form of public housing (tax cost). With viable home ownership earned through their own sweat and financial contributions, they become taxpaying homeowners. Mortgage payments go directly to Habitat to help finance the next build. It's a waterfall effect. People secure in their own homes no longer spend time or worry on housing. They then have more to spend improving their lives with quality family time and improving their future. A favorite story of Griffin's is of a young man who recalled being eight-years-old, cleaning up rocks and litter from the worksite of his soon-to-be home. Because of the stability and security the families' new home provided, his mother went back to school. He and his brother both finished their educations. Today that eight-year-old boy is now a man, has two advanced degrees and works in banking. Frances Wingate completed her 500 hours. Now her budget-friendly payments, along with those of fellow homeowners, will provide funds for others longing for homeownership. They will be taxpayers, maintaining their homes with a fierce pride, beautifying Fayetteville. They will build strong families, continue education and achieve success. Volunteers who worked on her house have the satisfaction that comes with doing something good. It's a win/ win situation. On the day of her home's dedication, members of Habitat for Humanity's Board of Directors, staff and volunteers along with friends and family gathered on Frances Wingate's new porch. Before they went inside to cut the cake, Wingate clutched her flag and raised her hand high. "Thanks and glory to God for allowing me to get this and to get the strength and ability to do this and to get the strength and ability to do this. I thank everybody and the Board of Realtors who had a hand in granting that money. And I thank each and every one for their part in making my dream come true." CV

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