HOPE NC has begun putting their new partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Orange County into action by rolling up their sleeves at Weavers Grove. This past weekend, HOPE NC volunteers joined Habitat’s construction team on neighboring homes as the first walls are being raised on ten homes that will provide safe, affordable housing for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

HOPE NC (Housing Options for People with Exceptionalities) is a Triangle-area nonprofit dedicated to creating inclusive communities where individuals of all ages and abilities experience a sense of belonging. Founded by three parents seeking housing solutions for their children into adulthood, HOPE NC works to bridge the gap by creating affordable, inclusive communities where adults with I/DD feel welcomed, valued, and empowered to live independently. HOPE NC’s housing model involves integrating adults with I/DD into a larger housing community where they can live independently, with the support of an onsite Community Facilitator to assist with increasing social interactions with neighbors and connections to needed resources to thrive in their communities.

”It was so wonderful to be a small part of building the future Weavers Grove neighbors’ homes and to imagine all the great relationships that will be formed here for neighbors with and without disabilities,” said Laura Wells, Executive Director of HOPE NC.

This collaboration was first announced in October during the dedication of the initial homes in Weavers Grove. As part of the partnership, Habitat will sell ten homes in the neighborhood to HOPE NC, which will then rent them to adults with I/DD. Weavers Grove itself is a one-of-a-kind mixed-income community in Chapel Hill, with more than 200 homes planned—including 102 built by Habitat. The development is also home to partnerships that strengthen community connections, such as B3 Coffee, which will open a shop in the community center where some HOPE NC residents may one day work.

In addition to building housing, Orange Habitat is deepening its commitment to inclusion through a new initiative called Building Belonging. This program is designed to make volunteer opportunities more welcoming to individuals with I/DD by introducing site adaptations, training for staff and volunteer leaders, and a digital resource library to support participants of all abilities. Developed in collaboration with disability inclusion experts, occupational therapists, and assistive technology specialists, Building Belonging will launch this fall and expand opportunities for meaningful participation on Habitat build sites.

Construction began at Weavers Grove in July 2023, and 28 homes are currently under active construction. All homes in the community, including the HOPE NC units, are expected to be completed by 2028. The first 4 units that HOPE NC will rent out will be completed in spring 2026.