When Darlene McCray talks about her home, she isn't just talking about a roof over her head. She is talking about a sanctuary. "It’s not just my home," she says. "It’s his home, too. And it was mostly for him."

Darlene has been the sole caregiver for her son, Steven, who has cerebral palsy, since his father left when Steven was just four years old. He is now 43. For nearly four decades, Darlene has navigated the profound challenges of raising a child with severe physical disabilities single-handedly. For years, finding a home that truly met their needs felt like an impossible mountain to climb, a daily struggle of balancing her deep love for her son with the exhausting physical realities of their living conditions.

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The Challenge of Finding Accessible Housing

For families with members who have disabilities, the affordable housing pool gets smaller and smaller. Darlene and Steven used to live in an older trailer. The hallways were too narrow for his wheelchair, forcing Darlene to carry him down over her shoulder. The trailer had electrical issues, caught fire a couple of times, and lacked proper insulation, forcing them to put plastic over the windows in the winter.

"I was exhausted, but it's never been easy," Darlene recalls. The reality for many families is that the housing pool shrinks dramatically when you need bigger doorways, a walk-in shower, and accessible kitchen appliances.

A New Chapter in Waynesboro

Things began to change when Darlene reached out to the Waynesboro Redevelopment and Housing Authority (WRHA). She filled out her application and met with our team. We saw her careful budgeting and determination. We had no doubt she could manage, and we were thrilled to help her find the right opportunity.

Through a pilot homeownership program we offered at the time, Darlene and Steven were able to pick a lot and watch their new accessible house be built from the ground up.

"I kept riding by and looking at it building up, and couldn't wait to see it," Darlene says. "When I moved in, I cried that night. We finally got a house."

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Stability Means Success

Today, Steven has a roll-in shower and can easily go out on the porch to watch the traffic and chat with neighbors. "I'm very happy there," Darlene says. "Like I'm in heaven."

At WRHA, we know that success in our programs looks different for every family. Sometimes, families come to us after an unexpected medical event. Other times, they are doing everything right but just aren't able to make ends meet. To us, stability is success. While we no longer administer the specific homeownership program that Darlene used over 20 years ago, we offer a wide range of other opportunities. The answer is never just a no. It's about finding what we can do to help the families we serve reach their goals.

"We couldn't have the house to live in without them," Darlene says. "To me, they're part of my family."

Find Your Opportunity

If you or someone you know is facing housing instability, we may be able to help. WRHA offers a range of affordable housing opportunities designed to provide safety and stability for families in our community.

Applying is straightforward. You can learn more about our programs, eligibility requirements, and the application process here: Public Housing | Explore Affordable Housing Opportunities: Waynesboro Redevelopment & Housing Authority.

For immediate housing needs, the Valley Housing Crisis Hotline is available at (540) 213-7347.

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