Habitat for Humanity will raise funds to help Maine cope with housing challenges
Courtesy / Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland has joined an international fundraising campaign to support the organization’s work in the face of the pandemic.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland has joined an international fundraising campaign, called Homes, Communities, Hope + You, to help create affordable, sustainable housing for Mainers despite the ongoing pandemic.
The campaign, a project of Habitat for Humanity International, is a network-wide fundraising initiative designed to support the organization’s work in communities across the United States and around the world, according to a news release.
Through the campaign, Habitat plans to raise money to support more families who need access to affordable homes.
“This is a challenging time for all of us, but especially for families in need of housing,” said Godfrey Wood, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland. “When we’re able to begin building again we will need support to help make a difference for these families.”
Funds raised through the campaign will be used to build new homes for future Habitat homeowners. Additionally, funds will be used for the Critical Home Repair program that helps low-income homeowners make needed repairs so they can live in a safe, healthy and affordable home.
For more information, click here.
Habitat says the coronavirus crisis has exacerbated housing challenges for many Mainers. Low-income households are particularly at risk as a result of their economic instability and their concentration in service industry and other hourly jobs. In an estimated 12 million of these U.S. households, at least one contributing member works in an at-risk industry.
As a result of the pandemic, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland has temporarily closed its ReStore retail operations, office, build site and critical home repair program, but continues to pay staff. The organization's home ownership information sessions for a new Freeport home have been delayed.
The closures affecting the way the organization, founded in 1984, raises funds to build homes. The ReStore is its single biggest fundraiser, and its temporary closure is expected to make an impact on how the organization can afford to build.
In January, the South Portland Planning Board approved a proposal by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland and the South Portland Housing Development Corp. to build eight affordable, energy-efficient homes off Sunset Avenue, near the city's Thornton Heights neighborhood.
Habitat homes are sold to qualified families with substantial interest- and principal-free financing, so they pay no more than 30% of their income on mortgage payments, taxes and insurance.
Habitat last year completed a 13-home community in Scarborough.
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments