“Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field till no space is left and you live alone in the land.” – Isaiah 5:8

This Bible verse changed the course of Michael Gates’ destiny.

Michael, 63, has had a long and circuitous path to become a homeowner for the first time. His new home will be built in partnership with Walmart and Knoxville Catholic High School as part of Knoxville Habitat for Humanity’s seven-house blitz build April 9^th to 16^th in Habitat’s new Silver Leaf subdivision.

Michael first learned about Habitat for Humanity six years ago through an acquaintance at Woodlawn Christian Church. He admits he liked the idea of owning his own home, but put off applying for the program despite renting a house with a leaky basement and a mold problem that was starting to affect his health.

“I’ve always made it on my own and had a perception that Habitat for Humanity was for other people who needed help,” said Michael.

As such, Michael began working with a Realtor to purchase a home with a conventional mortgage. He looked at dozens of foreclosed homes because they fit his budget, but he couldn’t find one that suited his needs or that was in good repair.

With his options of home ownership dwindling, Michael did apply to Knoxville Habitat for Humanity and was accepted in February 2009. He began accumulating his 500 hours of sweat equity by taking weekly budgeting classes, a good-neighbor class, and the “Realizing the American Dream” course.

However, after having earned about 300 hours of sweat equity – more than enough to go on the lot selection list at Habitat – Michael’s real estate agent showed him a small, foreclosed home located in a very private setting on 1.5 acres. He made the decision to drop out of the Habitat program and secured a contract on the small house.

Then, one day while reading the Bible, Michael read Isaiah 5:8 – and the words really spoke to him as a sign that he should not proceed with the purchase of the home.

“I thought, ‘Maybe God is speaking to me and saving me from trouble down the road,’” said Michael. “It was like someone stuck a knife through my heart. I thought about (the Bible passage) and what it said about he who isolates himself on the land and realized it’s not just about buying a house. Habitat believes in building community.”

Michael backed out of the contract after a home inspection revealed a serious problem with the foundation. He decided to go back to Habitat and take a look at some of the parcels on the lot selection list. When he came across the property at Silver Leaf, he knew he had found the location of his future home.

“I felt a peace about Silver Leaf because of Habitat’s process. There is such a contrast between Habitat and trying to buy a house on your own,” he said. “With Habitat, it’s so easy because they help you every step of the way.”

Michael re-joined the Habitat program and resumed work towards completing his sweat equity hours to become one of the first six homeowners in Silver Leaf, which will eventually be a community of 53 houses.

“I feel really invested (with my future neighbors) in Habitat,” he said.  “I feel a responsibility towards them and we will keep an eye out for each other.”

Together as one, Silver Leaf sounds like the perfect place to call home.