Minutes 05-23-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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family. At the time I currently could have paid with my rent, I was paying two mortgage payments to Habitat. Owning a home that is affordable means that my family can put our energy into other things like being active in our community, seeking resources such as education for myself and my children. In fact, my daughter Latisha just last weekend graduated from Winston-Salem State College with honors in business management with a minor in finances. We are very proud of her. I will continue to be active in the community. I have good relationships with the residents of Efland Estates, Ashwick subdivision, and am looking forward to all of the new neighbors in Tinnin Woods subdivision. As a board member, I know that Habitat has worked hard over the years to improve the quality of homes being built, making them attractive, more energy efficient, and green. Over 25 years experience in building homes and neighborhoods. Orange County Habitat ranks in the top 10 in the State of North Carolina. Habitat nationally is the largest homebuilder in the world with 400,000 homes and counting. Think about those happy families. I hope that you will support Tinnin Woods as proposed by Habitat for Humanity so that we can continue to provide home ownership for those who want and need it the most. Yolanda Hernandez (used a translator): Good evening, my name is Yolanda Hernandez. I live in Richmond Hills subdivision, which has 43 homes, and I've purchased my home through Habitat. Before living in Habitat I rented an apartment for 12 years. I'm very grateful for Habitat giving me the opportunity to live in Orange County. It is something that I would not have been able to do without their help. I'm speaking in support of the community of Tinnin Woods, the new subdivision that is proposed to be in Efland. I'm happy to know that this is an opportunity that 28 families would be able to take hold of. A safe, affordable home means so much to me and my children. Without Habitat, families like mine would not have been able to live in Orange County where they were. Many families have had to make a decision and decide to move out of the County into surrounding areas in order to find affordable housing. If you vote in favor of Habitat, some of these families will have the opportunity return and this will be a wonderful thing. I'm grateful that I work in Orange County and I love my community. There are many more families like mine who want to live in this County and work in the same county that they live and send their children to Orange County schools, and yes, they would be proud to contribute to the County. The applicants for Habitat homes understand that owning their own home means that they will be paying their property taxes, and I'm sure that they would be happy to do that. Thank you. Alex Bidot, Community Organizer for Habitat for Humanity, was the translator. He was sworn in, as was Yolanda Hernandez. Allison Coleman: I have been sworn in. I'm the President of Richmond Hills Homeowner's Association, which is a Habitat community. I'm house#109. My home was built in 2003. Before owning my home, I rented public housing. The reason why I applied to Habitat was because I was working and I couldn't afford to live in Orange County. My apartment was too small. I realized that Habitat was the only place that I could get a home through. And I am grateful for Habitat giving me that opportunity to own a home in Orange County and I would never have been able to afford one otherwise because of the high cost of housing in the County. I'm speaking in support of Tinnin Woods because it will provide the chance for 26-28 families like mine to have the same opportunity I did —to move into a secure stable home for me and my children. Without Habitat, families like mine would have to continue renting housing that's unaffordable, overcrowded, or in disrepair, or they will have to move out of the County and find housing.