Local Women Newest Habitat Homeowners

Dedication Ceremonies For Two Greenhouse Village Homes Monday

On Monday, Dec. 2, at 4 p.m., Vera Merchant and Crystal Roberts will welcome family and friends to celebrate the dedication of their new Habitat homes in Greenhouse Village.

As a longtime resident of Rockbridge County, Merchant has a deep sense of community and family that has translated well into being a Habitat homeowner. When her mother died, she had to make a new plan and look for a place to live.

“I knew I just needed to be somewhere that I knew was mine,” she said.

Merchant was excited to partner with Habitat, and eager to begin her sweat equity hours, despite her own concerns about her age keeping her from being as productive as she wanted to be. “You learn so much that you didn’t know,” she said.

Merchant said she is thrilled to have new friends living on either side of her, who she met in the evening classes required of each new Habitat homeowner. One of her neighbors, Crystal Roberts, has a dog named Luna. She looks forward to looking after Luna whenever the opportunity arises.

“In general, Habitat is a great place,” said Merchant. “It’s a great idea for those less fortunate or those who just think they can’t. And the people who work there do an amazing job showing that they care about people and their well-being.

Crystal Roberts knew that she needed to move out of her apartment. As a single woman with a beloved fur baby, Luna, she wasn’t optimistic about her housing prospects, and it made her nervous.

When she began her Habitat partnership, she was undeniably excited. To her, the prospect of being a homeowner – particularly a single female homeowner – and all the responsibilities that came with homeownership were intimidating but thrilling.

Roberts had nothing but positive words to share about her experience working with Habitat and fellow homeowners.

“Everything has been amazing,” she said. “The people are dedicated, hardworking and they all take pride in the organization. I think it’s great that Habitat has that dedication and commitment, because without them, I don’t know what it would look like.”

Homebuyer classes conducted by Rockbridge Habitat include financial coaching. This provided the tools Roberts needed to learn the ropes of home ownership. The 200 hours of sweat equity she worked literally placed the tools in her hands to understand the work that goes into building a home from the ground up.

“It was a lot of hard work,” said Roberts about her sweat equity experience, “and the toughest part for me was knowing my limits as to what I can and can’t do, and what I was willing to try ... but it was worth it.”

“I love my house, and it’s nice to be able to call something mine. It’s home.”