On August 9th, 2009, Lorraine Williams received a Bible, her certificate of ownership, and the keys to her new house at 204 Clay Street in Annapolis. It has been a long journey for Lorraine, but she says, “I’m going back home; my roots are from Clay Street.”
Arundel Habitat was delighted to help Lorraine acquire her own home in a community that she calls home; one that needs her warmth and determination.
Lorraine was born in Annapolis, and she remembers a time when Clay Street was “a big, strong community.” Her grandmother owned a home at 117 Clay Street and she recalls how doctors, teachers and other African-American professionals populated the neighborhood. Now Lorraine is part of a renaissance on Clay Street that was started by community advocates and has been joined by Arundel Habitat for Humanity and other Habitat homeowners like Lorraine.
Lorraine began her relationship with Arundel Habitat in 2003. She says that she kept seeing newspaper ads about owning a home through Arundel Habitat for Humanity. “I was sure I would qualify for a home. I didn’t even have a car.” She saw the ad again and decided “It can’t hurt. I’ll go ahead and fill out an application.” Several weeks passed and Lorraine received a letter to attend a meeting at the Stanton Center on Clay Street. There she met family services director Sombo Hilton and learned about the whole Arundel Habitat application process. “Sombo encouraged me and told me I could own my own home.”
That Sunday in church – Mt. Calvary United Methodist Church – Lorraine heard a member of her congregation talk about Arundel Habitat. “Marge told us about her involvement with Arundel Habitat and its church relations committee. It just seemed like it was meant to be.”
Lorraine talks a little bit about the next steps, “Someone came to visit my house and when he arrived he said “well I can see the first problem is your steps, and you have no railing to hold onto to get in the house.” But my main problem was mold; it was everywhere. I had to have a fan on all the time because my son suffers from bronchitis.” It was clear to Habitat’s screening committee that Lorraine was living in pretty bad conditions, and she was approved for the homeownership program. “Vicki Ledbetter from the committee called me that night to tell me. She said “Lorraine I just couldn’t wait to let you know, you’ve been approved!”
“I started working on my hours then, first in the office. I would take a bus and then a shuttle to get to the office, but there was always someone there who would give me a ride home. I just felt that God was saying, “if you get there, I’ll get you home.” Lorraine held on to this conviction during the coming hard times.
In 2005, with more than half of her sweat equity hours completed, Lorraine was diagnosed with breast cancer. “I had to focus on my health then, and let the work on my house wait for a while.”
It took Lorraine two years to feel fully confident that she could focus on her home again, and in the fall of 2007 she began working on her sweat equity hours. She was offered a house in
Brooklyn, but on her doctor’s orders she had to decline, ”He said the amount of industry in Curtis Bay would be a bad thing for me to be around.”
Then Arundel Habitat offered Lorraine the chance to own a new house on Clay Street Everyone said to me, just wait on it. Something is coming your way, and it has. “I have been blessed with a car and no car payments, and now this house. I already know my neighbors. I’m going back home.” Lorraine says, “Habitat is a family and now I am a part of it. Just like a family you feel open and free.”
Lorraine talks about her involvement on Arundel Habitat’s special Obery Court family screening committee, “It’s like my church where I’m involved in committees and ministries. I am proud to be part of Habitat and the work to reach out and touch others.” Lorraine is referring to Habitat’s project to build 10 houses for current residents of the Obery Court and College Creek Terrace public housing projects. She has joined other community members and Habitat homeowners to encourage and work with residents who are applying for one of the new homes.
Lorraine feels blessed to have a new home on Clay Street and we all share in the blessing that has brought her back to be a part of restoring it to the “big, strong community” that she remembers.
