a refresh for spring
Spring means it’s time for a refresh.
But with Habitat Repairs!, it can mean a fresh start.
Built in 1969, James and Shirley Coulter purchased their house when they were young. For decades, this home was the heart of where they raised their two children, served their community as non-profit leaders, and shared their faith.
“We are proud that we were able to buy a home of our own when we were young, and that we were able to raise our family in a house so much better than the ones we were raised in ourselves.”
Now, the Coulters’ children are grown and the couple lives on their own. Health challenges and the use of a wheelchair make it difficult for the couple to access essential areas of their home – like the upstairs, the shower, and a safe entryway.
“We didn’t think about getting to the stage in life where we wouldn’t be able to go up and down stairs and manage that kind of home. We were young and didn’t think long term.”
That’s when Shirley called Habitat Catawba Valley. “I heard so many things about Habitat and how they work to serve others, to make life better, and to help keep you in your home for as long as possible.”
With support from Habitat Catawba Valley – and neighbors like you – the Coulters will be able to install
Every day, families like the Coulters partner with Habitat Catawba Valley to repair homes, preserve memories, and restore hope. The Habitat Repairs! program fixes older, owner-occupied homes with the goal of improving health, safety, and security for low-income families, the elderly, and people with
In the last 5 years, Habitat Repairs! has performed roughly 565 repairs on 146 homes, serving 230 of our neighbors. That means that every 8 days, Habitat provides a refresh to a home in need of repairs, and a fresh start for a neighbor in need of security.
This is only possible because of supporters like you. Join Habitat now to provide the critical repairs that keep our neighbors safe, warm, and dry when they need it most.
“I hope we will be able to live in our home for years to come. And I believe the help we get from Habitat will allow us to do so.”
– The Coulters, Habitat Repairs! client
While Habitat Repairs! has provided critical relief to keep families in their home for more than half a decade, our community still has the oldest housing stock in the state. The need continues to grow. But – with your support – so will the Habitat Repairs! program. Our goal is to serve 30% more of our neighbors in search of stability.
Last year, 36% of Habitat Repairs! households had incomes below the federal poverty guidelines. With finances this tight, our partner families struggle to simply cover basic necessities like groceries and medication. Costly household repairs don’t fit into this budget, creating a potentially dangerous and unhealthy living environment for families and their children.
The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton MSA has the oldest housing stock in the state, with 2/3 of houses more than 25 years old and in dire need of critical repair. The average Habitat Repairs! home is nearly double that age – at 45 years old – with the oldest home being 121 years old. The families we serve live in homes that are long overdue for necessary repairs in order to keep them safe, warm, and dry.
Habitat completes an average of 3.87 repairs per property that we serve. That means that by the time families seek Habitat’s assistance, they have already experienced compounding years of delayed repairs due to the prohibitive cost of fixing their homes.