Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee is directing $31,000 in state grant funding to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga to assist in building two new homes in the Scenic City.
The funding comes as part of a half-million- dollar grant from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area and its sister organizations throughout the state will apply the grant toward the construction of 30 new homes for low-income families.
“We’re very grateful for our partnership with the Tennessee Housing Development Agency and their consistent support,” says Colleen Dudley, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee, “This grant provides us with a solid foundation to jumpstart our larger fundraising efforts, which will reach $2.8 million from individuals, churches, foundations and businesses to complete these builds.”
Local Habitat chapters could apply for $15,500 per build in THDA funding from the grant. When construction is complete in June 2018, more than 100 adults and children will be living in the 30 homes built in part from this funding.
“We share Habitat’s mission and its passion for creating new homeownership opportunities to Tennessee families, so it’s a natural partnership,” says Ralph Perrey, THDA’s executive director.
“We’re always confident that Habitat is going to put our funding to good use, and I’m sure more than a few THDA staffers will be among the volunteers at build sites across the state.”
In addition to supporting Habitat for Humanity with grant funding, THDA also provides zero-interest home loans to qualified Habitat homeowners.
Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage that, in turn, helps fund future Habitat builds.
Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia.
The housing organization came to Tennessee in 1978 and has grown to being ranked the fourth largest builder of Habitat for Humanity homes in the country.
Funding for the $500,000 THDA grant came from the Tennessee Housing Trust Fund which receives no state tax dollars but is instead funded by revenue from THDA’s mortgage loan program. Since 2006, THDA has provided more than $75 million in THTF grants.
Information: www.THDA.org.
Source: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area