Building blitz provides windows and more for dozens of future Charlotte homeowners

Ivory Wallace, a teacher, has been involved with Habitat for Humanity for nearly three years hoping the nonprofit could assist her with finding affordable housing.

“My living situation now is, fair,” said Ivory. "I'm living in a family home. It's only a two-bedroom, but at the time we moved in it was just me and my daughter. Now, I have two additional children and we are cramped. The repairs and maintenance are just too much for me to bear by myself."

In 1984, Habitat for Humanity partnered with President Jimmy Carter and his wife to create the Carter Work Project. The Carters had a mission of building more affordable housing for American families. Since then, businesses and volunteers worldwide come together for a building blitz coordinated by Habitat for Humanity. Businesses donate building materials and, together with other volunteers, build forever homes from the ground up.

In 2023, country music stars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood hosted the event in Charlotte. Future homeowners, like Ivory, worked alongside the musical artists and hundreds of other volunteers to construct their homes. The building crews hailed not only from Charlotte but from around the world. Over five days, 27 single-family homes were built on nine acres of land, donated by the City of Charlotte to Habitat Charlotte Region. The neighborhood, The Meadows at Plato Place, once housed an all-Black school that was a transformative education and civic space for the black community in the early 1900s through the mid-60s.

Not only did JELD-WEN have dozens of associates at the site helping to build the houses, but the company donated about 600 windows for the 27 homes. Every window is ENERGY STAR^® certified. They’re more energy efficient, which helps homeowners with lower energy bills.

“It means something to be out here supporting others who may not have the ability or the financial fortitude to do it themselves. To provide an option for them to have their own home is inspiring,” said Jonathan Funk, project management at JELD-WEN North America.

“Thanks to JELD-WEN, we will have windows to look out,” said Ivory. “I can see my son as he jumps from the front porch several times in his Spider-Man, 'I never want to take off' pajamas. I can see the memories pass by. It's great.”

Ivory and her family will move into their new home in April 2024.

As part of the program, residents who receive the homes must put in many hours of sweat equity. Ivory says she’s putting in 300 hours, most of that time going toward building her new four-bedroom, two-bathroom home.

"My main goal was to have something before my daughter left – because she'll be leaving to go to college soon. I wanted her to know that when she left, she always has something to come back to," said Ivory.

Ivory’s daughter will have a forever home thanks to the help of local residents, people from all parts of the world and businesses that donated their time and products. The Carter Work Project will change many lives and provide a home for families where memories will be made.

Rendering of Ivory Wallace's home.