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Street named to honor Lowe’s associates who build safe, affordable housing
Safe and affordable housing is a challenge nationwide, but especially in Lowe’s hometown – Charlotte, North Carolina. The lack of housing also contributes to the city’s challenges with economic mobility; a survey found children who grow up in poverty are least likely to escape it in Charlotte.
Lowe’s provided a $1.1 million grant to help build safe, affordable housing with Habitat for Humanity locally. This included supporting Habitat Charlotte’s first fully-developed street. Lowe’s volunteers dedicated nearly 600 hours to help build a few of the 21 homes on Red Vest Way, a cul-de-sac named to show Lowe’s commitment to affordable housing and honor the company’s red vest associates for their volunteer hours spent building Habitat homes.
Each home will be sold to a deserving family that has undergone Habitat Charlotte’s homeownership program, where they receive an affordable mortgage upon completion of required financial and homeownership education, plus 300 hours of sweat equity.
“Not only do we want to be a responsible retailer, we want to be a responsible citizen. This is part of our commitment to supporting the safe, affordable housing crisis that’s in Charlotte,” said Don Frieson, Lowe’s executive vice president of supply chain, who joined Habitat Charlotte to dedicate the first three completed homes on Red Vest Way.
One of the dedicated homes was framed in a Lowe’s store parking lot on International Women Build Day, a global event focused on building and improving while raising awareness about affordable housing issues facing women and their families. The home’s framed pieces were later transferred to Red Vest Way after the street had been paved.
Watch the video above to learn more about Red Vest Way.
