Grayson Wilson, along with his mother, Anne migrated to the US from Guyana South America in search of a better life. They faced many challenges and setbacks as they learned a new culture and way of life but thrived, nonetheless. In his younger days, Grayson was extremely active in sports and loved being on a team. His love for teamwork, leadership, and connectedness lead Grayson to a successful 7-year career in the Army.
In 2022, Grayson connected with Habitat Detroit and joined the Weekend Warriors, knowing he very much wanted to be a homeowner himself. Understanding he needed to get a few financial ducks in a row first, he began to attend webinars and continued learning everything he needed from this new community. Over the next year, he helped in several home builds and attended webinars all in order to gain the skills needed to be a successful homeowner. During this time he discovered that the Habitat Detroit culture at its core is “genuine care”.
“I have an innate desire to serve others and to see their lives fulfilled. Volunteering with Habitat Detroit for over a year and a half, I’ve seen other’s homeownership dreams come true. I’ve learned new skills relating to home renovation and home maintenance,” said Wilson.
In February 2023, his hard work had paid off — Grayson officially applied for and was approved to be a Habitat Detroit Homeowner. That same week he viewed a house and made his choice shortly after.
Wilson continued, “Now that homeownership is a reality for me, I am grateful to have this experience. Working with Habitat Detroit offers me peace – They continue to equip me with the knowledge, skills, and access to resources to make my homeownership lifecycle sustainable.”
There’s a strong correlation between mental and physical health and having a decent and stable place to live. So then, it’s no wonder that a partnership between Habitat for Humanity Detroit and Meridian, an organization providing government-sponsored and managed care services to people of all ages, makes sense.
Thirty-five interns at Barton Malow recently gathered to lay new driveways, sidewalks, and a back porch for homeowners in Detroit. The company worked with Habitat for Humanity Detroit (HFHD) on the project and donated the materials and time to make the improvements happen.
Patriot Day is a day of reflection and remembrance. It can also serve as a day to honor those who served our country. That’s what National Guard Association of Michigan and Habitat for Humanity Detroit did this Sept. 11.