In rural areas, community vitality begins with its people and is directly proportionate to their quality of life.  In rural eastern North Carolina, low-income homeowners make up a large percentage of the population.  Statistics also show that these same regions have struggling economies, rising healthcare costs, and population loss. 

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Residents living in substandard housing face the following:

• Poor physical and mental health,

• Children attain less well at school

• The high cost of repairs prohibits building personal wealth or maintaining generational ownership of property.  

• Retirees and homeowners with disabilities face an additional financial burden when their homes require pathways and ramps to make them accessible.  Without safe access people become housebound, and their emotional and physical health declines. 

• When homes are vacated, blight and decay spread further impacting neighborhoods.

• Young people move away in search of opportunity.

• Homes in disrepair see increased energy consumption.

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Since 2011 CRM's experience with homeowners shows that when people struggle with health and safety because of substandard housing, their basic needs increase and involvement within the community decreases. 

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Our service model engages homeowners in the process by:

• Involving individuals and their families in the repair process

• Providing connections to other needed services such as healthcare, food, and transportation

• Encouraging people to take part in their community and church

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CRM's goal goes beyond home repair.  We think of ourselves as a link towards developing a thriving community starting with people first. ​