Behind the Scenes at Habitat Greater Raleigh

Habitat Greater Raleigh staff joined affiliates from around the world at Habitat for Humanity’s 2026 Affiliate Conference last week in Atlanta, Ga.

Habitat is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, marking five decades of working alongside families and communities to build and advocate for a world where everyone has a safe, affordable place to live.

Throughout the week, the team connected with fellow affiliates, exchanged ideas and explored innovative approaches to addressing housing challenges.

As we reflect on 40 years of history at Habitat Wake, we find ourselves contemplating the power of “firsts.”

Those first hopeful conversations. The first home built to completion.

Another landmark worth celebrating: the first church to fully and independently sponsor a Habitat Wake home — and the homeowner whose voice helped shape the future of our mission.

Looking for love? You just might find it at Habitat Wake. We have a bit of a knack for bringing people together. 

"It all started from a prayer request." -- Habitat Wake's first Board Chair, John Wilson.

John Wilson had recently met a woman in Raleigh who was living in a tenant home on the edge of a larger property. "The house had no running water, and the windows were plastic. It was cold, and she was just in a terrible situation," John said. It was 1984.

"I grew up in Washington, DC, uptown on Peabody Street. My great-great-great-grandmother bought that home, and it stayed in our family for generations. It was the house I grew up in. My grandmother was the last one to have it. The house was fully paid off, but we lost it to outstanding property taxes in 1998. We learned later that because my grandmother was over 62, she could have had the taxes forgiven. What really sticks with me is how much we didn’t know. If you don’t know something, you can’t fight against it."

AmeriCorps members play an integral role in what we do at Habitat Wake. They help us serve more families, recruit and lead more volunteers, and build more homes. If you’ve ever stepped onto a Habitat construction site, chances are you’ve worked alongside an AmeriCorps volunteer. All members receive a living allowance and a financial contribution toward education upon completing the program, along with other benefits.

Habitat's vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Well recently, that vision extended to an unexpected feline friend discovered at one of our construction sites! 

This June, amid the flurry of Home Builders Blitz, an unexpected reunion unfolded. Among the many subcontractors coming out that week was Tyleam Edwards and his insulation crew. But this wasn't his first time stepping onto a Habitat for Humanity site.

Habitat Wake has officially kicked off development in our second largest community: Old Poole Place!