It is an exciting time at Habitat for Humanity of Carroll County. Summer has arrived and the building season is upon us. This summer, we are starting another build and our volunteers and staff are busy selecting our next partner family, planning our construction process, and soliciting support. It takes a passionate and diverse team of generous people to create an opportunity for a hard working family.
Habitat for Humanity does not offer hand-out programs. We offer a hand-up to each and every one of our partner families. They earn their zero percent interest mortgage through sweat equity and participation in our rigorous application process. The family will receive coaching, support, and homeownership and financial education, while learning practical construction and home maintenance skills.
At every step, our focus is to build strength, stability, self-reliance and shelter. Our homeowners learn valuable skills that will serve them for years to come. With a reduction in housing costs, and elimination of the stress of finding housing they can afford, our families become more stable at work, home, school and in the community. Through their experience with Habitat, their accomplishments build confidence, a sense of community, and deepen their roots in Carroll County. We want each of our families to transition from struggling with the challenges in life, to meeting them head on, and creating a better life for themselves and their children.
Our Habitat partner family’s children play a very important role in this process. Our homeowners are driven to provide a better life and opportunity for their children. We help provide stability and a very important sense of home and community belonging. They don’t need to move from place to place, change schools, or wonder where they will be living a year from now. Having a stable place to call home helps them perform better in school, live a healthier lifestyle, and always know that they have a permanent place to call home. These same children are more likely to go to college, enjoy a stable income, and own homes of their own.
As we begin to build this summer, we always keep our mission and those we serve in front of us. We live for the moments when we celebrate successes with our partner families. We support them when they need it most. We are honored to play a role in their journey toward a more stable future, empowered by their experience building with us.
We believe that every hard-working Carroll County family deserves the opportunity to own a home in our community and that homeownership should not be limited to wealthier families. The American dream of homeownership is still alive and well here at Habitat for Humanity of Carroll County.
Please visit our website, Facebook page, or give us a call and find out how you can you can become part of the next Habitat homeowner success story.
Bryan Lyburn is the executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Carroll County. Reach him at 410-751-7722 or email [email protected].