Agenda - 10-04-2011 - 7a - Laserfiche WebLink

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22 1 working with the County, Justice United, and the homeowners of Richmond Hills and Ashwick 2 subdivision to find a way to keep the sewer rates in Efland affordable. I am very glad that the 3 County has worked with us to keep this rate from going higher than first projected. With the 4 economic development growth, the addition of 28 more homes will help make the Efland sewer 5 system more financially sustainable. I lived and work in public housing for over 50 years. As a 6 community organizer, I work with Chapel Hill's housing department self-sufficient program, and 1 7 recommend Habitat to many public housing agencies as a home ownership opportunity. After 8 collaborating with all Chapel Hill housing programs, I knew that Habitat was the most affordable 9 home on the program and I sought the same opportunity for my family. At the time I currently 10 could have paid with my rent, I was paying two mortgage payments to Habitat. Owriing a home 11 that is affordable means that my family can put our energy into other things like being active in 12 our community, seeking resources such as education for myself and my children. In fact, my 13 daughter Latisha just last weekend graduated from Winston-Salem State College with honors in 14 business management with a minor in finances. We are very proud of her. I will continue to be 15 active in the community. I have good- relationships with the residents of Efland Estates, Ashwick 16 subdivision, and am looking forward to all of the new neighbors in Tinnin Woods subdivision. As 17 aboard member, I know that Habitat has worked hard over the years to improve the quality of 18 homes being built, making them attractive, more energy efficient, and green. Over 25 years 19 experience in building homes and neighborhoods. Orange County Habitat ranks in the top 10 in 20 the State of North Carolina. Habitat nationally is the largest homebuilder in-the world with 21 400,000 homes and counting. Think about those happy families. I hope that you will support 22 Tinnin Woods as proposed by Habitat for Humanity so that we can continue to provide home 23 ownership for those who want and need it the most. 24 25 Yolanda Hernandez (used a translator): Good evening, my name is Yolanda Hernandez. I 26 live in Richmond Hills subdivision, which has 43 homes, and I've purchased my home through 27 Habitat. Before living in Habitat I rented an apartment for 12 years. I'm very grateful for Habitat 28 giving me the opportunity to live in Orange County. It is something that I would not have been 29 able to do without their help. I'm speaking in support of the community of Tinnin Woods, the 30 new subdivision that is proposed to be in Efland. I'm happy to know that this is an opportunity 31 that 28 families would be able to take hold of. A safe, affordable home means so much to me 32 and my children. Without Habitat, families like mine would not have been able to live in Orange 33 County where they were. Many families have had to make a decision and decide to move out of 34 the County into surrounding areas in order to find affordable housing. If you vote in favor of 35 Habitat, some of these families will have the opportunity return and this will be a wonderful 36 thing. I'm grateful that I work in Orange County and I love my community. There are many 37 more families like mine who want to live in this County and work in the same county that they 38 live and send their children to Orange County schools, and yes, they would be proud to 39 contribute to the County. The applicants for Habitat homes understand that owning their own 40 home means that they will be paying their property taxes, and I'm sure that they would be happy 41 to do that. Thank you. 42 43 Alex Bidot, Community Organizer for Habitat for Humanity, was the translator. He was sworn in, 44 as was Yolanda Hernandez. 45 46 Allison Coleman: I have been sworn in. I'm the President of Richmond Hills Homeowner's 47 Association, which is a Habitat community. I'm house #109. My home was built in 2003. 48 Before owning my home, I rented public housing. The reason why I applied to Habitat was 49 because I was working and I couldn't afford to live in Orange County. My apartment was too 50 small. I realized that Habitat was the only place that I could get a home through. And I am 51 grateful for Habitat giving me that opportunity to own a home in Orange County and I would