After 18 months of sometimes uncomfortable conversations about race, a group of Orange County pastors and Habitat for Humanity of Orange County have reached agreement on a plan to help 10 low-income families buy homes in Habitat’s new Auman Village townhome community under construction in Hillsborough.
The pastors, who are also members of Orange County Justice United, and Habitat are longtime affordable housing allies, but had been at odds over a minimum income requirement of more than $60,000 to purchase an Auman Village home. The pastors told NC Newsline in February that the requirement would price low-wage earners out of the 75-unit townhome development, which is located near an historic African American community.
“It’s been my hope and desire that when you are planning to build within the community, allow the community to live in the community,” said Rev. Tony Boss, senior pastor of the 138-year-old Piney Grove Missionary Baptist Church, which is about a mile from Auman Village.
Boss initially asked for homes to be set aside for members of his congregation, but said in February that all African Americans with modest incomes should have a chance to buy homes in Auman Village.
Jennifer Player, Habitat’s president and CEO, said Habitat and the pastors made progress on a plan to serve low-income residents after she stopped looking at the issue as a math problem…