Some homes hold a lifetime of memories. For Channie, her Southeast Raleigh home has been part of her family’s story since she was in ninth grade. Now, she is continuing that legacy with help from Habitat for Humanity Greater Raleigh and community partners who are helping her maintain the home she loves.
After spending her life in the Raleigh area, Channie returned to her family home to care for her mother, who lived there until she passed away in 2015 at the age of 97. The home has remained a constant in Channie’s life, providing a place for family to gather and make memories together. Some of her favorite memories are holiday meals when everyone could come together under one roof and enjoy time with one another. As the neighborhood has grown and welcomed new homes and neighbors over the past decade, Channie has continued to appreciate the community she calls home and the connections she has built there.
“This is a family home. I’ve lived here most of my life and I can’t imagine being anywhere else,” said Channie. “I like the neighborhood because it’s always quiet and safe. It’s been in the family this long, it might as well stay a little longer.”
Channie first connected with Habitat Greater Raleigh years ago, when the organization helped insulate the home’s windows and doors while her mother was still living there. Now, as she works to maintain the home herself, she reached out to Habitat again when the roof began showing its age. Believed to have last been replaced in 1992, the roof was due for an update.
After retiring from a career in transportation, Channie now lives on a fixed income, making major home repairs a daunting expense. Replacing a roof is a significant investment, and finding an affordable way to maintain her home is essential to her goal of remaining there as she ages. The home’s existing accessibility modifications also make it especially important for Channie to be able to stay in a space that meets her needs.
Through Habitat Greater Raleigh’s Home Preservation program, Channie received a roof repair at no cost to her. The project was made possible through the generosity of Big Bear Roofing & Exteriors, which provided skilled labor and project management for the installation, and GAF, which donated roofing materials and resources through its Community Matters initiative to support resilient housing.
“At Big Bear Roofing & Exteriors, we believe our responsibility extends beyond the roofs we install. As a veteran-owned business, we take pride in serving our community with the same commitment, integrity, and dedication that define our values,” said Colin Blocksma, director of North Carolina operations. “We were honored to donate a new roof to Habitat for Humanity and support their mission of providing safe, affordable housing. We’re proud to use our skills and resources to make a lasting difference in the communities we serve, because giving back isn’t just something we do — it’s part of who we are.”
For Channie, this repair means more than a new roof. It helps her continue caring for a home that has been part of her family’s story for generations and remain in the neighborhood she has loved throughout her life.
Through the generosity of community partners like Big Bear Roofing & Exteriors and GAF, Habitat Greater Raleigh helps homeowners address essential repairs that might otherwise be financially out of reach. Together, these partnerships help preserve the homes, memories and community connections that make a house so much more than a place to live.
Learn more about Habitat Greater Raleigh's Home Preservation program at www.habitatraleigh.org/home-preservation.