Seven housing projects statewide will receive $1 million from Delaware’s Housing Development Fund.
The HDF, Delaware’s housing trust fund, was created for the purpose of providing affordable low and moderate-income households. Nonprofit developers or sponsoring agencies can apply for grants from the HDF to build new affordable housing, rehabilitate existing owner-occupied housing or for adaptive reuse of nonresidential buildings.
Six organizations will receive funding in this round to create or rehabilitate a total of 24 homes around the state. Once the homes are complete, the organizations will then sell them to low- to moderate-income Delawareans.
“The organizations receiving HDF funding in this round are to be commended for their efforts to give more Delaware families a safe, affordable place to call home,” said Gov. John Carney. “With the HDF, the Strong Neighborhoods Housing Fund and the Downtown Development Districts programs, we are working hard to transform Delaware’s communities and increase access to affordable housing and homeownership.”
“DSHA relies on our partners to help us provide more Delawareans with safe, affordable housing, and we are grateful for the dedication these organizations have shown to this mission,” said DSHA Director Ben Addi. “With this funding, at least two dozen Delaware families will have the opportunity to become homeowners in communities throughout our state.”
Today’s announcement event took place at a property being renovated by 2 Fish Home Renovations, an HDF award recipient organization that provides employment and job development opportunities for formerly incarcerated adults in New Castle County.
2 Fish partners with the Delaware Department of Correction and Delaware Technical Community College to provide a five-week construction training course while the prospective employees are still incarcerated. Once they are released from prison, they are prepared to start work with 2 Fish. To date, 2 Fish has hired 20 formerly incarcerated individuals.
2 Fish plans to use HDF funding to acquire and rehab four homes in the Overlook Colony neighborhood of Claymont and sell them to low- and moderate-income buyers.
In addition to the 2 Fish project, affordable housing projects receiving HDF funding in this round, listed by jurisdiction:
Dover
Milford Housing Development Corporation (MHDC) will receive $200,000 to construct four new homes in the Harmony Hill subdivision of Dover. Harmony Hill is a rural community located in a DSHA-designated Homeownership Opportunity Area. MHDC has completed roughly 25 homes in the vicinity of this neighborhood with many located in Harmony Hill. The new homes will have a minimum of three bedrooms and two bathrooms and have approximately 1,200 square feet of living space.
Ellendale
Sussex County Habitat for Humanity (SCHFH) will receive $140,000 to construct four new homes in and around the Ingram Village development in Ellendale. SCHFH owns all four properties – two are located in Ingram Village and two are located just outside the entrance to the development. This will be the fifth phase of this development for SCHFH. The new one-story ranch style homes will be approximately 1,250 square feet and include three to four bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms depending on household size.
Milford
Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity (CDHFH) will receive $100,000 to construct two new homes in Milford. The proposed properties are unknown at this time, but CDHFH plans to target homes in Milford’s Downtown Development District area.
Milton
SCHFH will receive $105,000 to construct three new single-family homes in the Town of Milton. SCHFH owns all three properties. The completion of this project will provide necessary affordable homeownership opportunities in Eastern Sussex County where there is currently a lack of affordable housing. The new one-story ranch style homes will be approximately 1,250 square feet and include three to four bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms depending on household size.
Seaford
Diamond State Community Land Trust (DSCLT) will receive $120,000 for the construction of four new homes in the Governors Grant community located in Seaford. The homes will have three bedrooms and two bathrooms and will include mobility features. DSCLT will sell the homes for approximately $140,000. At least two of the four homes will be sold to households with members with disabilities.
Wilmington
Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County (HFHNCC) will receive $135,000 for the renovation of three townhouses in the City of Wilmington. Two of the three properties are located in one or more of DSHA’s designated Homeownership Priority Areas. HFHNCC owns all three properties. This project continues HFHNCC’s longstanding commitment to the Eastside of Wilmington. Two of the townhomes will have four bedrooms and one will have three bedrooms. All three homes will be sold to first-time homebuyers.
