Every year, the first Monday in October marks World Habitat Day — a day established by the United Nations to remind us that housing is a basic human right. It is a day when we pause to reflect on the challenges of housing worldwide and commit ourselves to building a world where every person has a decent place to live.
For us at Habitat for Humanity Peninsula & Greater Williamsburg, this year carries special meaning. Not only do we join the world in recognizing the importance of decent, affordable housing, but we also celebrate the 40th anniversary of our affiliate. This milestone gives us the opportunity to honor our history, thank our supporters and recommit ourselves to the mission that has guided us since 1985.
Since our founding, we’ve built and renovated hundreds of homes alongside families, volunteers and donors who believe in one simple truth: every family deserves a decent place to live.
The Habitat for Humanity homeownership program sells affordable housing to low- and moderate-income families through an affordable mortgage and sweat equity hours, where families help build their own homes and the homes of others. This model fosters pride and a deeper sense of community. Homebuyers are not given houses — they partner with us on the journey to ownership.
Our story has never just been about lumber and bricks — it has always been about people. We’ve seen parents put down roots, children do homework in their own bedrooms for the first time and families pass down keys to homes they once thought were out of reach. Over the years, we witnessed how homeownership breaks cycles of poverty, improves health outcomes and opens doors to educational and economic opportunity. Each home creates stronger neighborhoods, healthier families and a more vibrant community.
As proud as we are of these past four decades, we know the work is far from finished. Housing costs continue to rise at a pace far faster than wages. Families who work hard every day are still priced out of homeownership, while many others face the crushing burden of rent that consumes too much of their income. Too many in our community continue to face the uncertainty of unstable housing.
World Habitat Day challenges us to confront these realities with honesty and urgency. It asks us to recommit ourselves to building a future where possibilities start with a home. Because when families have an affordable place to live, everything else becomes possible — better health, higher educational achievement, stronger financial security and greater community engagement.
We cannot continue this work without you. The heart of Habitat has always been people — those who give their time, their skills, their resources and their voices to create a better community for all. Here are some ways you can take action:
Volunteer on a build site.
Volunteer, shop or donate to a ReStore.
Donate. Your financial gifts build stronger communities right here on the Peninsula and in Greater Williamsburg.
Advocate. Use your voice to support policies that expand access to affordable housing for working families.
Every act of generosity — whether large or small — makes a tangible difference.
Forty years ago, our first Habitat home on the Peninsula symbolized a new beginning for one family. Today, hundreds of families later, that vision is still alive — but we cannot build alone. Each volunteer, donor, partner and advocate has played a role in writing this story, and each has helped build not just houses, but hope.
On this World Habitat Day, I invite you to join us. Together, we can ensure that every door we open leads to opportunity and hope — for the next 40 years and beyond.
Shauntrice Williams serves as CEO of Habitat for Humanity Peninsula & Greater Williamsburg. With years of nonprofit leadership, she has dedicated her career to fostering stronger communities across Virginia.