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By Carole Demmy

Davie Habitat

The dream of home ownership has come true for three local families.

There is no better way to celebrate the 28th anniversary of Habitat for Humanity Davie County than for three homeowners to pay off their mortgage.

Over the last quarter of a century, Davie Habitat has provided the opportunity for 18 local families to own a home.  Three of these families have recently paid their final mortgage payment and are proud homeowners.

The Cheryl Melton family, The Martinez family, and the Alvarado family qualified for Habitat homes in 2000, 2004, and 2006.  They have made monthly payments which included insurance and taxes. These homes have provided the families an opportunity to live in a new three-bedroom, two-bath home.

Cheryl Melton said that she was born and raised in Davie County. She saw an article in the Enterprise and decided to apply for a Habitat home.

After living in a double-wide, which was in pretty bad shape, she and her five children were thrilled to move into their new home.  With caring for her children and working, she was honored to do her “sweat equity” hours, working on her home right along with the Habitat volunteers.

Paying off her home is a grand accomplishment for Melton, and it gives her a sense of pride.  She said that, with her children, 10 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren, everyone enjoys visiting her home.

Her son, Minister Kendrick Melton, said the experience was a great blessing to the family. He says, “God makes a way out of no way.”

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The Alvarado and Martinez families have worked just as hard to own their own homes.

With children to raise and inadequate housing prior to Habitat, these folks were blessed to become part of the Davie Habitat program.

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Habitat Davie  has been building homes for local families since 1996. The idea was a result of the project for the Leadership Davie County classes of 1992 and1993. Several members of those classes served on the first Habitat-Davie Board of Directors.

The vision of those individuals brought the energy for our small county to provide for families in need of an affordable and safe home environment.

Despite the last few years of COVID-19 and its many difficulties, Davie Habitat is on the way to a great re-start!  Construction is about to begin on a home and the new ReStore is being refurbished in Advance.

As a faith-based organization, Habitat-Davie seeks the best way to minister and serve our community, as well as to fulfill its mission of assisting qualified families to become home owners.  Habitat for Humanity home builds can take up to a year to complete.  This program is not a quick fix or a “hand out”, but a “hand up” to those wanting to improve their living conditions.

If you would like to volunteer on a build or at ReStore, please contact the Executive Director, Tamara Taylor, at the email below. Or if you or someone you know, perhaps a veteran, is in need of a home, please contact us at director@daviehabitat.org.