Habitat receives HUD sweat equity grant to help hundreds of families

ATLANTA (June 27, 2012) — Habitat for Humanity International has been awarded a 6.69 million Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP) grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The grant is expected to support the construction of more than 350 Habitat homes.

“Habitat’s model of requiring sweat equity is in perfect alignment with the SHOP program’s ‘self-help’ feature,” said Sue Henderson, vice president of U.S. operations at Habitat for Humanity International. “We are so grateful for the opportunity to again receive this funding and for the impact it will make for families in need of a decent and affordable home.”

HUD’s SHOP grant must be used to purchase land or make infrastructure improvements and is awarded on a competitive basis to organizations with experience administering sweat equity programs. As part of the Habitat program, partner families are required to help construct their homes and the homes of other partner families. Local Habitat affiliates can apply to receive up to 15,000 for each house it plans to build or rehabilitate. Each house must meet ENERGY STAR certification.

“These grants are about families devoting their own sweat and labor into their American dream,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. “With the help of these organizations and armies of volunteers, families are able to see that dream become reality brick by brick.”

Habitat received nearly 50 percent of the 13.5 million SHOP funding available for 2012. Other grants were also awarded to Community Frameworks, Housing Assistance Council and Tierra del Sol.

HUD has allocated more than 373 million in SHOP grants since Congress appropriated funding in 1996. Habitat has received grants each year, and with the nearly 189.9 million in SHOP funds received to date, Habitat has helped more than 15,000 families obtain affordable housing.

About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is a global nonprofit Christian housing organization that seeks to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. Since 1976, Habitat has served more than 500,000 families by welcoming people of all races, religions and nationalities to construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. For more information, to donate or to volunteer, please visit www.habitat.org, or follow us at www.facebook.com/habitat or at www.twitter.com/habitat_org or join Habitat’s blog community at www.habitat.org/blog.