On May 16, Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity reached a milestone decades in the making: the dedication of our 400th Habitat home. More than 100 volunteers, donors, and community members gathered in Richmond’s Highland Grove development to celebrate not just a house, but the lives and futures made possible through affordable homeownership.
The dedication marked a defining moment during Richmond Habitat’s 40th Anniversary Week of Building Hope, a week-long celebration of the organization’s mission and impact across the region.
“Think about what that means,” said Richmond Habitat CEO Dave Neary during the ceremony. “That’s 400 families whose lives have been changed through the stability and opportunity that homeownership provides. Four decades of volunteers, donors, sponsors, faith partners, and advocates coming together to make this mission possible.”
Throughout the anniversary week, 438 volunteers served on multiple build sites across the Richmond region, helping advance Richmond Habitat’s work to create safe, affordable housing opportunities for local families. The 400th home stood as the centerpiece of that effort, receiving its final touches just days before the dedication ceremony.
The event brought together leaders from across the community, including First Gentleman Adam Spanberger, Richmond City Councilwoman Ellen Robertson, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development Director Dr. Tamarah Holmes, Habitat leadership, and members of the homeowner’s family. The home’s street name, Ellens Haven Alley, honors Councilwoman Robertson’s long-standing commitment to community.
One of the ceremony’s most emotional moments came when the homeowner’s mother, Josephine Dugger-Davis, addressed the crowd.
“I do not, and my daughter does not, take lightly what you all have done for her,” she said.
Following the dedication, attendees toured the newly completed home and a neighboring Habitat-built home at 617 Ellens Haven Aly, currently listed for sale on the open market. The homes reflect Richmond Habitat’s continued investment in creating mixed-income communities and expanding access to affordable housing in Richmond.
For Richmond Habitat, the milestone represents far more than a number.
“This milestone is about more than homes built,” Neary said. “It is about children growing up with a sense of stability, families building brighter futures, and communities growing stronger together. While we celebrate how far we’ve come, we also look ahead. The need for affordable housing continues, and so does our commitment to this work.”
Richmond Habitat’s Homeownership Program is designed to help families achieve long-term stability by ensuring homeowners spend no more than 30% of their income on housing costs. Participants complete homeownership education classes, budgeting workshops, and sweat equity hours, working alongside volunteers to help build their own homes and strengthen the community around them.
The organization’s 400th homeowner reflected on the significance of the moment in Richmond Habitat’s 40th anniversary video.
“I think you can look at the 400th home in 40 years and it’s a depiction of the need for Habitat and its success,” she said. “It works. Proof that it works.”
