Groundbreaking for 72nd Habitat For Humanity home in Salisbury

SALISBURY, Md-  Rhoda Nakey, her 3 daughters, and her parents gathered around Salisbury officials and Habitat for Humanity volunteers at the groundbreaking ceremony for what will become her home in Salisbury’s church street neighborhood Friday.

“It is really happening it is like a dream come true,” Nakey said.

For the Nakey family, a place to call their own is just a few short months away with construction set to conclude on June 30th.

“I’m overjoyed that we have the funding through the Salisbury community development block grant program to be able to get this house started,” said Wicomico County Habitat For Humanity Director Molly Hilligoss. 

The home would become the 3rd house built by the organization and the 72nd since Habitat For Humanity began operating in the county according to Hilligoss.

She tells us, another home in Salisbury is also under construction at the same time, a necessity for moving through their lengthy backlog of families looking for affordable housing. She tells us Habitat For Humanity is also expanding its funding sources, to local banks in order to have a quicker turn-around on investment, allowing them to build more homes while still subsidizing the mortgage payments for homeowners.

“Our model that mortgage payment will be under 700 dollars a month which is far less than the current rental rates in the city of Salisbury,” Hilligoss said.

Mayor Jake Day, speaking at the groundbreaking highlighted the issue of increasing rental payments and housing insecurity in the town, pointing to organizations, like Habitat For Humanity as offering tangible solutions, and increasing homeownership in the area.

“I am extremely grateful to have a partner like this in our community who is serious about helping people transition from wherever they are in life,” he said adding “today this is the first step for one family in the right direction.”

One of the key sources of funding has been the City of Salisbury’s Community Development Block Grant program, aimed at supporting renovation and renewal within town limits.

For Rhoda and her family, it’s the type of program they had been praying for.

“I am so overwhelmed because I never imagined this happening now but I’m so glad it is and to have a place I can call my home,” she said adding “I’m looking to making  beautiful memories here and my kids will have fun and they will enjoy it.”