New Homeowners Find Hope Through East Texas LIFE Build Program

Thanks to Legacy's LIFE Build program, which provides affordable housing to individuals in need across East Texas, Dorothy Weathers has a new home.

“It’s been a little over a year since work started on my home,” said Weathers. “However, it was definitely worth the wait, and I thank God for this blessing.”

Weathers is among several East Texas residents becoming first-time homeowners through the LIFE Build program, which is funded through grants and support from local businesses and industries. According to Legacy Institute for Financial Empowerment’s (LIFE) Executive Director Joseph Ceasar, Georgia-Pacific played a key role in bringing Weather’s home to life.

READ MORE: Georgia Pacific Donates $70K to Area Fire Departments

Georgia-Pacific’s East Texas facilities—including Corrigan and Camden Plywood, Diboll and Pineland Lumber, and Diboll Particleboard—provided nearly all the materials needed to build Ms. Weather’s 1,300-square-foot home.

Earlier this month, Weathers was handed the keys to her new home on Kelty’s Street in Lufkin. The three-bedroom, two-bath home features a spacious den and a modern kitchen complete with brand-new appliances.

“I can’t wait to start cooking,” Weathers added with a smile. “I am one of three sisters, and we all like to cook—and with the holidays approaching, I will be ready to break in my new kitchen.”

And to top it off, the Lufkin Lowe’s store made sure that Weathers’ home had the right curb appeal by installing flowerbeds, providing her with a lawn mower, and an outdoor portable storage building.

While LIFE Build provides affordable housing to families like Weathers, it also creates opportunities for workforce development. Through this program, apprentices train alongside a professional carpenter, learning every aspect of home construction—from framing and roofing to painting and flooring. At the completion of their training, apprentices graduate with construction certifications.

LIFE Build is currently putting the finishing touches on a second home—a 1,500-square-foot residence located next door to Weathers’ house on Kelty’s Street. The organization is already in the process of securing land for future builds. To learn more about LIFE Build, or to support its mission, visit Legacy Institute.