More than 2,000 low-income families will become homeowners because
of $22 million in "sweat equity grants" announced October 24, 2002
by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez. Five national
or regional organizations will be awarded these grants to help families
build or rehabilitate their own homes.
Habitat
for Humanity International - $10,809,000
Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) is a national nonprofit
organization that will use SHOP funds in urban, suburban and rural
areas to facilitate and encourage innovative homeownership opportunities
through the provision of self-help housing. SHOP funds will be used
to purchase land and make necessary infrastructure improvements,
primarily in support of new construction. Local affiliates will
compete for SHOP funding from HFHI on a national basis. Completed
properties will be transferred to homebuyers who, along with other
volunteer help, contribute a significant amount of sweat equity
toward the construction of the house. HFHI will produce a minimum
of 1,081 housing units.
Housing
Assistance Council - $6,861,000
Housing Assistance Council (HAC) is a national nonprofit organization
that plans to use SHOP funds in primarily rural areas for land acquisition
and infrastructure improvements that support new construction. A
portion of the SHOP award will be used for administration, planning
and management development. Local organizations developing self-help
housing will compete for SHOP funding from HAC on a regional basis
in order to achieve a national distribution of funds. Each local
organization is permitted to custom design how it will use the funds
in compliance with SHOP requirements. The homebuyer must contribute
a significant amount of sweat equity toward the construction of
the house. HAC will produce a minimum of 638 housing units.
PPEP
Microbusiness and Housing Development Corporation - $2,356,000
PPEP Microbusiness and Housing Development Corporation (PPEP) is
the lead agency for a regional consortium covering the states of
Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, and New Mexico. PPEP will receive SHOP
funds for distribution to four consortium members. Five affiliate
organizations in Arizona will also receive SHOP funds. SHOP funds
will be used for land acquisition and infrastructure improvements
that support new construction of self-help housing. A portion of
the SHOP award will be used for administration, planning and management
development. Each consortium member is permitted to custom design
how it will use the funds in compliance with the SHOP requirements.
Completed properties will be sold to low-income homebuyers who contribute
a significant amount of sweat equity toward construction of the
house. PPEP will produce a minimum of 196 housing units.
Northwest
Regional Facilitators - $1,623,000
Northwest Regional Facilitators (NRF) is a regional nonprofit organization
located in Spokane, Washington, serving primarily the states of
Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana. NRF and 15 local participating
affiliates will buy land and make necessary infrastructure improvements
for construction of new housing. A portion of this SHOP award will
be used for administration, planning and management development.
Each local organization is permitted to custom design how it will
use the funds in compliance with SHOP requirements. The homebuyer
must contribute a significant amount of sweat equity toward the
construction of the house. NRF will produce a minimum of 140 housing
units.
ACORN
Housing Corporation - $351,000
ACORN Housing Corporation (ACORN) is a national nonprofit organization
that will use SHOP funds in Chicago, Illinois, New York City, New
York, Phoenix, Arizona, Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and other cities to
be identified. SHOP funds will be used for land acquisition and
infrastructure improvements that support new construction and rehabilitation.
A portion of the SHOP award will be used for administration, planning
and management development. Completed properties will be sold to
low- and very low-income homebuyers who contribute a significant
amount of sweat equity toward construction of the house. ACORN will
produce a minimum of 30 housing units.
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