The first residents are moving into a new upscale affordable housing neighborhood created by the group, Builders of Hope.

The non-profit group asks developers and organizations to donate to them old houses that are slated for demolition in order to make way for new developments.

Those homes are relocated, set on foundations, and rehabilitated inside and out.

On Saturday, the first families moved into Barrington Village, a 24-home neighborhood. To buy one of the rehabilitated homes, people have to go through an application process and earn under the median income.

For an individual, the median income is around $50,000; for a family of four, it's about $72,000.

"I'm overjoyed. It looks 100 percent better, and it's all brand new," said Lorena Wiggins, who is moving in to the development with her two children.

Wiggins said her children are most excited about being able to play in their own yard.

Builders of Hope says its mission is to create more quality affordable housing for working families in the Raleigh area. They sell their rehabbed homes at cost, and use grants and other funding sources to help offset expenditures.

"The people that really run our city, people in the service industries and government employees, they can no longer afford to live in our city in a safe community like this," said Nancy Murray, executive director.

"We're able to get folks into these houses that wouldn't have been able to afford them otherwise, and that is the real reward."

Teams of volunteers also have been helping with the project.

Students from N.C. State helped build a shed and work on streetscape as a service project. Crews from Atreus Builders shared their skills and time on construction.

"It's not just a house, it's sort of a whole village concept here," said Murray.

Each household is given a computer and access to wireless Internet. Because the neighborhood is not on a bus line, Builders of Hope has offered to help people without transportation obtain a donated vehicle to use.

To learn more about Builders of Hope, go to www.buildersofhopenc.org

Related Links

1. http://www.buildersofhopenc.org/