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Writer's pictureEmily Hendrickson

"I have a legacy...."

Updated: Jun 22, 2021

In 1996 Marilyn couldn’t believe that she was accepted into the Chatham Habitat Homeownership Program. “I was in great need of an affordable house for my mom and my four kids.” Marilyn was accepted into the program and got straight to work with homeowner classes and completed her sweat equity hours where she volunteered on the construction site working on her home. “I worked on my house every day after finishing the third shift. I was determined to get my house done.”


Each homeowner that partners with Chatham Habitat completes 350 sweat equity hours on the construction site working on theirs and others’ homes. Completing the required hours demands time, energy, and dedication to becoming a homeowner.


After months and months of completing the sweat equity hours and completing the required courses, the day had finally come. “That day at closing I couldn’t stop the tears falling constantly. The emotion at that moment was overwhelming for me,” Marilyn remembers about the day she officially got the keys to her home. She closed on her home February 1, 1997 and in the time since, she has been able to live so much life in her home: making memories, growing with her family, and building a legacy.


“I have a legacy for my children to remember me.”

24 years after closing on her home, Marilyn reached a major milestone by paying off her mortgage. “I am so grateful that Chatham Habitat worked with me!” We couldn’t be more proud of Marilyn for all of her hard work and dedication to becoming a homeowner.


Homeownership has become more and more challenging over the years with real estate prices rising, stricter requirements for conventional loans, and an extremely competitive market all contributing to less opportunity to own affordable housing. In Chatham County alone in the last year, the median home price rose 22%, making homeownership even more difficult to achieve. Chatham Habitat works with families and individuals to create pathways to homeownership.


Everyone deserves a safe, decent, affordable place to call home.


Join us today and make a difference!


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