Opening Doors - Habitat: Not Just Opening New Doors

By Matthew Whittle

We talk a lot at Habitat about opening new doors to new opportunities for families through our new home construction program. But sometimes that opportunity can be just behind an old door that’s stuck. And that’s where our home repair program comes in.

Maybe it’s not the best metaphor, but the folks, often elderly, who apply to Habitat for our critical home roof repair program are stuck behind closed doors. 

They are living in a home they own, dealing with the physical and mental health impacts of having a roof that is leaking, with few affordable repair options. Physically, when roofs begin leaking, moisture and mold are not far behind. Psychologically, our clients often tell us how anxious and on edge they become when there are storms at night or while they’re away, because they’re always wondering what new damage they will find when they wake up or return. 

And so even as we have just ended our new home application period and continue work on McNair Heights, critical home roof repairs are becoming a bigger and bigger part of our efforts in the community. 

But the challenge, as always, is funding, especially since Habitat subsidizes 75% of the cost of repairs and the homeowners pay their portion as they are able. So if you’re interested this repair mission, visit www.habitatgoldsboro.org, and earmark your donation for repairs.