Habitat for Humanity is shattering its national model with the development of Rising Oaks subdivision in Terrytown.
For 50 years, that successful model included repairing existing homes and building new ones in established neighborhoods. The physical work was done through partnerships among the low-income families who were to be the recipients of the homes, volunteers and donors to create homes that were simple, decent, affordable and of no particular architectural pedigree.
They were financed through zero-interest or low-interest mortgages and a revolving fund. Participants were empowered through financial education and homeownership skills, rather than charity.
For Rising Oaks, however, the organization spent a year in planning and acquisition before breaking ground on the large-scale project of over 150 workforce homes in 2023. Rising Oaks is Habitat’s largest development and its first fully developed community. Its look will be different as well, with a midcentury modern aesthetic that will help integrate the new neighborhood into the existing Terrytown landscape…