U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awards Habitat for Humanity $6 million “sweat equity” grant
Grant will boost efforts to alleviate poverty housing through Habitat’s self-help homeownership model
ATLANTA (December 11, 2014) — Habitat for Humanity International has been awarded 6 million in federal Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program, or SHOP, grant funds by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
As the largest single recipient of SHOP funds, which are awarded on a competitive basis to nonprofit organizations with self-help housing programs, Habitat will use the funds to help build more than 331 homes in partnership with low-income families across the United States and rehabilitate many more.
Homebuyers benefiting from SHOP funds will contribute sweat equity toward the construction of their homes or those of other local self-help homebuyers, thus reducing the purchase price of each home supported by SHOP. The grant requires that SHOP funds be used to purchase land and make infrastructure improvements and not exceed an average SHOP investment of 15,000 per dwelling.
“Partner families putting their own labor into the construction of their future homes is a fundamental building block of Habitat’s work,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “We thank Secretary Castro and HUD for increasing our capacity to partner with low-income families looking to become successful homeowners.”
Habitat for Humanity has received SHOP funds since 1996, when HUD first began issuing grants through the federal program. To date, more than 210 million has been used by Habitat affiliates across the U.S. to complete more than 16,500 homes, leverage more than 1 billion raised in local communities and house more than 61,000 people.
“We are encouraged to see level funding for SHOP as well as Section 4 in the fiscal year 2015 omnibus appropriations bill as these programs are most supportive of Habitat affiliates’ work,” added Christopher Ptomey, director of government relations. “As we are already more than two months into fiscal year 2015, we encourage Congress to pass the omnibus bill and urge the administration to include full funding for SHOP in the president’s FY2016 budget request.”
About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Anchored by the conviction that housing provides a path out of poverty, since 1976 Habitat has helped more than 5 million people through home construction, rehabilitation and repairs and by increasing access to improved shelter through products and services. Habitat also advocates to improve access to decent and affordable shelter and offers a variety of housing support services that enable families with limited means to make needed improvements on their homes as their time and resources allow. As a nonprofit Christian housing organization, Habitat works in more than 70 countries and welcomes people of all races, religions and nationalities to partner in its mission. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit habitat.org.