You have been a gift to me in 2020
By Kimberly Sanchez, Executive Director
“What I can say about Community Home Trust is that it’s a blessing.”
That’s what Priscilla told us recently, after she purchased her CHT home in October of this year, nine years after she first applied to our program.
As I reflect on the end of 2020 – and the end of my first year as CHT’s Executive Director – I couldn’t agree with Priscilla more. In one of the most difficult years our community has ever faced, CHT has stood out as a bright light in dark days, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have joined this incredible community this year, the year Priscilla and 20 others achieved their dreams of homeownership.
This year, homeowners have used words and phrases like “sanctuary” and “safe place” and “room to spread our wings” to describe their homes. In a year when security and safety at home have been perhaps more important than ever, your support has made it possible for us to connect individually with each of our homeowners, to provide financial counseling and education in a year when so many faced insecurity in their jobs and suffered financially. We have been able to provide safe, secure housing for the residents of our 58 rental units at The Landings, many of whom hold low wage jobs or are living with disabilities.
I’m proud of this work, all accomplished in a year that was so challenging for so many – a year when the critical need for affordable housing in our community has shown to be more imperative than ever.
And I’m excited to get to 2021 and all we have planned for next year!
For the first time in 18 years, 2021 will find CHT building 25-30 brand new townhomes at 2200 Homestead Rd, with incredible partners Self-Help Credit Union, Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, CASA, and the Town of Chapel Hill. We’ve also created a partnership with private developer Taft-Mills Group to construct 48 rental units for individuals and families with low wages and who have disabilities. And thanks to the generosity of our 39 Giving Tuesday donors, we’re ready to get started remodeling the community room at The Landings, so that our tenants there will have a fantastic community space in a matter of a few months.
We couldn’t have accomplished any of this without YOU, our incredible community. As 2020 comes to a close and we bid farewell to a year full of challenges many of us can’t wait to leave behind, would you consider investing in Community Home Trust’s future?
We accomplished so much together this year, and 2021 promises to be even more exciting. Your gift today, as the year ends, will help ensure our continued thriving as a community, next year and beyond.
With gratitude and hope,
Kimberly Sanchez, Executive Director
P.S. While the pandemic meant I didn’t have a chance to meet many of you personally in my first year at CHT, please know that my Zoom door is always open! If you’d like to connect in person, please don’t hesitate to email me at ksanchez@communityhometrust.org so we can set up a time for a virtual coffee date. I’d love to meet you!
