Dear Friends,
As we welcome the New Year, I want to thank you for standing with Haywood Habitat for Humanity through a year that tested us—and ultimately strengthened us.
This past year brought real challenges. A leadership transition, organizational recalibration, and the ongoing pressures facing affordable housing organizations nationwide required focus, resilience, and hard decisions. With your support, we met those challenges head-on and emerged more stable, more capable, and better positioned for the future.
Despite the hurdles, we achieved meaningful, tangible progress this year:
We proudly rehoused the Garcia family; after nearly a year of displacement following Helene, they found stability and opportunity in a Haywood Habitat home. We closed our eighth home in Chestnut Park, continuing to build affordable homeownership in our community.
We launched a new home repair program, expanding our impact beyond new construction for the first time.
We hired new staff and reestablished strong internal systems to ensure long-term continuity. And we welcomed new Board members who bring fresh perspective, expertise, and commitment to our mission. We built and strengthened key collaborative partnerships across Haywood County and beyond. We ensured licensing and construction continuity, keeping our building program on track. Finally, we have made health insurance available to all full-time employees for the first time in the organization’s history!! This is an important step in building a sustainable, professional organization.
These accomplishments reflect more than milestones; they represent momentum, and we plan on building that momentum in the coming year. In 2026, Haywood Habitat will break ground on multiple fronts.
First, our New Construction Program will see completion of the Chestnut Park Subdivision, begin construction at the Jay Creek home sites, and break ground on the first of six homes in Clyde
Second, our Home Repair Program will continue to grow, allowing us to serve more homeowners with critical health, safety, and accessibility needs.
Third, we will open our first application window since 2024!!
Finally, we will further strengthen community partnerships and continue stepping into a visible leadership role in addressing housing affordability across Haywood County.
These projects reflect not only what we are building, but how we are building: deliberately, collaboratively, and with long-term impact in mind.
I am sincerely optimistic about the future of Haywood Habitat for Humanity. With your continued partnership, we are positioned to lead with integrity, deliver results, and remain a trusted force for affordable housing in our community.
I want to close this year, and start a new one, with “thank you” to our volunteers and donors. Thank you for your belief in this mission and in the families we serve. HHH supports Haywood County families only because you choose to participate. This organization does not have to exist. Without your time, experience, and funding commitments, Haywood Habitat would not serve this community in any meaningful way. So thank you.
I look forward to all we will accomplish together in the year ahead.
With gratitude and resolve,
Jared Iraggi, J.D.
Executive Director
Haywood Habitat for Humanity
