For each family, the home can be the stepping stone to greater goals or it can be the ultimate achievement of what was thought to be an unreachable dream. In either case, families gain confidence and a sense of pride in becoming homeowners. These new homeowners are invested in their neighborhoods and their community; and they work to create a safe and vibrant place for their families.

All of HFHSECT projects depend heavily on volunteers. A foundational principle of Habitat is that we build communities, through attracting people from all different walks of life, to work side by side with one another to eliminate substandard housing. Hundreds of volunteers annually work on Habitat homes, creating an updated version of an old fashioned barn raising. Whether filling in nail holes or building a wall, it is hard to go home without feeling like you made a tangible difference. This community building provides citizenship and leadership development opportunities. Each year HFHSECT engages more than 700 financial partners and 1,500 volunteers in the work of eliminating poverty housing in southeastern Connecticut.

The community will benefit from the smart growth strategies that HFHSECT utilizes in the building of affordable housing, which includes encouraging community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions. Additionally, development strategy is inclusive to promote mixed income neighborhoods, as opposed to isolating low to very-low income families. HFHSECT projects do not destroy or negatively impact open space, farmland, natural beauty or critical environmental areas. Lastly, HFHSECT strategy utilizes an infill development approach, reinvesting in existing neighborhoods to improve the tax base and the availability of jobs and amenities. Our development philosophy is consistent with the National Neighborhood Coalition’s Regional Fair Share Housing Allocation, and promotes just and equitable growth across the region. Our communities can grow in ways that preserve our natural resources, protect the environment, reinvests in our older communities, and enhances opportunity for all individuals.

Habitat homes are constructed to last, the design intended to reflect the look and feel of the neighborhood. This contributes to the sense of pride in ownership both the homeowners and neighbors can share in.
• The acquistion of land, infrastructure development, purchase of construction materials and use of professional trades represent an investment in the local economy of approximately $159,000 per house.

• The homes themselves represent the creation of tangible assets for the community and the homeowners, assets that generate tax revenue for the local government, create equity the homeowners can reinvest, and contribute to an increase in the property values of the neighborhood.

• 36 homes completed to date represent an estimated investment of $2.5 million in the local economy, creating an estimated $100,000 annually in tax revenue for local communities. In 2005, HFHSECT Initiated the Davis Farm project marking the beginning of the most ambitious and challenging project to date – the construction of 6 homes and a new public road needed to gain access to land locked lots.

This new community will be home to 18 family members; 7 adults and 11 children.

• For each of the families, this will be their first experience with homeownership. Their investment of ‘sweat’ equity and monthly mortgage payments ensures they are invested new neighbors. • For the children the homes represent stability, security in knowing where they will be living next year, and what school they will attend. • For neighbors, it is estimated a 1% increase in homeownership rates increases the value of each home in the area by $800. • For the city, these homes are expected to add $840 thousand to the grand list and generate $25,000 annually in tax revenue. • For the local economy, an estimated $1.2 million dollars will be spent in the purchase of land, building materials and the employment of professional trades.

Habitat for Humanity’s mission is not to be a home builder. Our purpose is to use our building as a way to engage people in solving community housing issues. A review of the the housing need of Southeastern Connecticut provides compelling reasons why Habitat must invite greater numbers of citizens to participate in solving the critical need for decent affordable housing: Table 3.20: Estimated Distribution of Household Income by Number of Households, 2000 Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region

Southeast Connecticut Council of Governments provided the following comments as a result of its study of the housing need:

It is at the threshold of very low income that affordability issues become the norm. For a twoperson household the very low income threshold in this MSA is $23,300 and for a four-person family it is $29,150. Only a two-person family in the very-low-income category renting a unit without a separate bedroom would pay less than 30% of their annual income on housing. For one- to fourbedroom units, families would pay from 32% to 45% of their income on housing.

Very-low-income, two-person households renting a two-bedroom unit at the Fair Market Rent could expect to pay 40% of their income for housing. And the situation of a four-person, very-low-income family requiring four bedrooms is worse. This family would need to devote 45% of its income to rent. Very-low-income families of this size would pay more than 30% of their income for housing whether they were renting two-, three- or four-bedroom units.

Statistical and anecdotal information indicates that housing costs have risen substantially since the 2000 Census. Housing affordability is a growing regional concern. For the approximately 28,000 regional households estimated to have annual incomes below $35,000, housing cost is a chronic/critical issue. For the 15,000 households with estimated annual incomes below $21,000, more than half of whom live in the urban towns, affordable housing is a desperate issue.

The numbers help us understand the need and compel us to take more urgent action. We are committed to building 9 homes in the next 30 months. These homes will provide 4,500 volunteers with a chance to know the families and understand first hand what it means to them to escape substandard living conditions. Their efforts will result in sustainable solutions, creating life altering moments and building brighter futures for generations to come.

We invite donors to partner with Habitat for Humanity of Southeastern CT in our work to involve the community in long term solutions one home, one family, one volunteer at a time.