Guest Post: New Year’s Wishes from a Long-Time Friend
As 2021 comes to a close, we’re wrapping up our celebration of our 30th birthday and looking ahead to all that we can accomplish in year 31 and beyond. Long-time friend of Community Home Trust Penny Rich sent us these New Year’s wishes. Penny has been a resident of Orange County since 1998 and has served on the OWASA Board of Directors 2001-2007, the Chapel Hill Town Council 2009-2012, and the Orange County BOCC 2012-2020. She is currently a Kenan Scholar Mentor and is on the BOD for a state wide Women’s Entrepreneur non-profit.
As year end approaches we will say goodbye to 2021 and hope for a better 2022. We have been through a lot these past two years. Learning how to interact virtually has been one of those challenges, allowing us to continue to communicate, but at the same time leaving us feeling the need for human contact. I am so impressed how Community Home Trust Director, Kimberly Sanchez, and her staff have continued to conduct business, despite the obstacles of a pandemic. Housing is an essential need. Without a safe, secure place to call home, our residents who face challenges in “normal” times felt enormous housing pressures as the pandemic lingered on.
I have served on the CHT Board of Directors a number of times over the past twelve years as a liaison from the Town of Chapel Hill and also as an Orange County Commissioner. I have watched the organization grow, offering home ownership to our residents, and was proud to be involved with the board, and voted in favor of introducing a rental property into the portfolio. As CHT continues to expand and reimagine how to provide needed housing, we have to recognize the amazing partnerships that allow for financial assistance and a collective interest to serve residents in Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough. Affordable housing is an issue that does not have a simple solution. It is complex, and a wide variety of stock is needed to keep our residents housed and allow for home ownership. CHT has visited different models over the years and with Director Sanchez’s dedication and openness to create a more resilient organization, I truly hope they remain a leader in the “Home Trust” community for years to come.
Happy New Year to Community Home Trust and CHT homeowners and renters! Thank you for making Orange County your home.
