The Jimmy Carter Work Project 2023 saw a remarkable collaboration of over 2,100 volunteers, uniting to construct 27 homes in the Meadows at Plato Price neighborhood in Charlotte, NC.
Amidst the echoing sounds of hammers and saws, Habitat for Humanity Charlotte President Laura Belcher saw more than construction; she saw a triumph for the mission of making homeownership accessible. It's an increasingly complex goal, with over 60% of Americans needing help to afford a home.
Homeownership creates generational wealth, breaks cycles, and for a community to care about economic mobility, it must care about homeownership.
Lowe's, a dedicated partner, not only donated over $250,000 in tools and supplies but also contributed a substantial $1 million to the cause. 175 Lowe's associates actively participated, investing their time and skills to construct two homes. One of these homes will soon belong to Davina Humphreys.
Davina shares her aspirations:
My next dream is to raise my kids here. I look forward to having equity, checking off the 'homeowner' box for car insurance—it's about the joy of comfort and stability.
Another future homeowner, Vanessa Barringer, underscores the importance of stability, expressing, "It means somewhere I can call home, and it will be mine." Witnessing the transformation from a pile of concrete to a tangible vision, she reflects, "Yesterday I didn't have a roof, and today I do."
The progress made during this week-long project significantly impacts the lives of all the families in the Meadows at Plato Price Community. Thanks to the participants' efforts during the 2023 Jimmy Carter Work Project, Davina, Vanessa, and their neighbors are now set to reach their goal of homeownership a whole year ahead of schedule.