WS Chronicle

Last week Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth County broke ground in the Stone Terrace neighborhood, where they plan to build more than 70 homes over the next few years.  

Located near the Ogburn Station community, Stone Terrace was started in 2006 by a private developer who was unable to keep building during the housing crisis. Habitat was able to acquire the property last year and has plans to build 75 homes over the next five to seven years. During the groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, March 5, Executive Director Mike Campbell said he was proud to be a part of a team that’s dedicated to bringing affordable housing to Forsyth County. 

“Habitat for Humanity Forsyth is committed to making an impact in this city in affordable housing and its economic mobility and creating safe communities,” Campbell said. 

Habitat serves families earning between 35% – 80% of the area median income. Families accepted into the program attend a series of classes on home ownership and financial literacy. Families are also required to spend time working on other homes and help build their own homes. Participants then purchase the home through a low-interest mortgage from Habitat. Monthly costs for the mortgage payment and utilities average only $400-$500 a month.

According to a city housing assessment, Winston-Salem will need an additional 14,000 housing units by 2027. In addition to Stone Terrace, Habitat plans to continue building and repairing homes in the Bowen Park, Dreamland, and Boston-Thurmond communities to help the city reach that goal. 

Mayor Allen Joines applauded Habitat for their continued efforts to bring affordable housing to the area. 

“The City of Winston-Salem and Habitat has had an extraordinary partnership for decades.   

“I understand that here in Winston-Salem, Habitat has built over 500 homes. That’s 500 homes, right … but think about how it has impacted and changed the lives of 500 families,” Joines said. “We’ve found as we’ve come in and worked in neighborhoods, we turned neighborhoods around, we turned families around, we’ve seen the kids do much better in school, there’s less crime in those neighborhoods as you introduce homeowners into those neighborhoods. So Habitat does more than provide homes, they’re really making a huge social impact on our city.” 

City Councilwoman Barbara Burke, who represents the Northeast Ward where Stone Terrace is located, thanked Habitat as well. She said, “Today we are grateful to Habitat for helping to increase the housing supply in order to close the current gap.

“This is a great investment in our community, so today we celebrate, especially in the Northeast Ward.”

Jeanette Brown, who will be one of the first homeowners in Stone Terrace, said she’s completed all the hours needed to complete the program and she’s excited to be a homeowner. 

“It feels good to have something of my own and not have to rent. I have something now I can leave my kids and my grandkids.”