Stephanie Bolton once had a dream she thought was impossible.
The mom of four sons including one who is non-verbal, Bolton wanted a safe home for her children to live and grow in.
“We lived in a home that wasn’t safe. I worried about electrical problems, plumbing issues and whether they were protected,” said Bolton, who now serves on the Augusta CSRA Habitat for Humanity’s board and lives in a Habitat home, at a groundbreaking ceremony June 26.
Bolton no longer worries about those things. She and her family are safe and happy and building relationships within their neighborhood.
The lot at 608 Macon Avenue is one of several that will see construction this year. Other groundbreakings are scheduled in coming months in neighborhoods such as Harrisburg.
Two years ago, Habitat’s CEO Bernadette Kelliher had the ambitious plan of building 10 Habitat for Humanity houses in a single year. And this year that goal should be reached.
It was ambitious because at the time she took over as its head, the organization, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary in Augusta this year, was only building one home a year. Kelliher hopes to build 50 houses a year in the next five years.
“Everyone deserves a decent place to live,” said Kelliher.
Habitat for Humanity homes rely in a large part upon the sweat equity from its owners as well as community volunteers. Habitat partners with commercial entities such as Bank of America for loans and Eighth Street Construction in their effort to provide a home at a lower cost than traditionally built ones.
“Together, we create opportunities that would not otherwise exist,” she said.
The homes been termed as “affordable” homes, but Kelliher wants to change that narrative because affordable housing brings up a picture that doesn’t fit those moving into Habitat homes.
A nurse with a family of four making $72,000 a year can qualify for a habitat home as can a firefighter with a family of three making $65,000 because it’s more about attainability in a market where wages haven’t kept pace with costs of living, said Kelliher.
The home at 608 Macon features a pitched roof and front porch and will be placed in an established neighborhood in east Augusta.
McKenzie Beech, the organization’s VP of Mission and Community Impact, said homes are typically constructed in four to six months, and volunteer opportunities will be posted on Habitat’s website at augustahabitat.org.
Habitat recently hired Gary Arnett as its construction manager who brings a wealth of experience in housing and community development, formerly working for the city of Augusta, according to Beech. He will be among the team to help streamline the process to make 50 homes a year in five years feasible.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s won multiple Georgia Press Association awards, is the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award and was named best local writer by readers of Augusta Magazine in 2024 and 2025. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
