Durham Habitat, Mount Vernon Baptist Church Kick Off Construction of Affordable Homes Community

DURHAM, NC – Habitat for Humanity of Durham and Mount Vernon Baptist Church are beginning the construction of ten Habitat homes. The new neighborhood is being developed on land recently acquired by Durham Habitat from Mount Vernon Baptist Church.

On Saturday, August 24, 2024, at 10:00 am, Durham Habitat staff and volunteers will gather with members of the Mount Vernon congregation for a neighborhood kickoff celebration at 211 E Umstead Street. The celebration will include remarks from both partners, and participants will raise a wall on the first home site to get underway. A reception will follow at Mount Vernon Church, with music provided by the Mike Jones Trio.

The property, which measures just over 2.5 acres, is adjacent to Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Durham’s historically significant Hayti district. The new community, with its ten affordable homes, will significantly boost the city’s housing affordability, particularly in an area that has become increasingly unaffordable.

When the church contemplated selling the land, Pastor Reverend Jerome J. Washington encouraged the congregation to consider the best use of the property. “We could partner with a private developer, who might build homes that would be unaffordable to many of the people we serve, or we could make a meaningful impact for the people of our community by selling the land to Durham Habitat,” he said.

In a resounding show of support, the Mount Vernon congregation chose to back affordable homeownership, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to social responsibility and recognizing the immense value of transforming this land into a life-changing opportunity for the families living in the new development.

The decision to partner with Durham Habitat is a testament to the church’s unique and innovative approach to affordable housing, projecting a strong example of civic leadership. This partnership represents an innovative way for faith communities to invest in strengthening the Durham community. Both Durham Habitat and Mount Vernon Church intend this partnership to serve as an example for other organizations in the community and create new conversations around innovative land use opportunities.

“We are extremely grateful to Pastor Washington and the Mount Vernon Baptist Church congregation for their support of our mission by allowing us to purchase this land at a fair price, said Tiana Joyner, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Durham. “The property holds great potential, and we are excited to get started on the construction. Thanks to their commitment to holding space for affordable homeownership in Durham, ten more local families will become homeowners.”

For more information, contact Rev. Jerome J Washington at 919-688-1823 or pastor@mvbcdurham.org.