Knoxville Habitat for Humanity has earned recognition as a Top 45 Affiliate for the third year. The designation is based on new home production among more than 1,000 Habitat affiliates across the country.
Knoxville Habitat CEO Kelle Shultz was among Habitat leaders at the recent annual meeting in Clearwater, Florida. She said Jonathan Reckford, Habitat’s international president and CEO, said never before has the Habitat for Humanity movement and mission been more important. Home prices are accelerating and the rapid increase is pricing many out of the housing market.
Knoxville home prices are about 25% higher than this time last year, with the median home price now nearing $300,000, Shultz said in a press release. An estimated one out of every three Knoxvillians is now concerned about affordable housing, and the number of first-time homebuyers is dropping to all-time lows. This lack of attainable housing can leave critical workers, such as healthcare workers and teachers, unable to afford living in the communities where they serve.
Shultz said she shared “the successes we’ve had building affordable homes in Knox County,” and she brought back ideas to allow the local nonprofit to serve even more families than before.
Knoxville Habitat is currently completing infrastructure development of Ellen’s Glen, a new neighborhood which will begin construction early this year.
Knoxville Habitat for Humanity is an independent, non-profit, Christian housing ministry that partners with people of all beliefs. Knoxville Habitat has been an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International since 1985 and builds homes in partnership with families and individuals in need of a safe and affordable place to live. Knoxville Habitat also serves low-income seniors through critical home repair so they can live independently, more comfortably and more safely in their homes.
Families are very much invested in the process of buying their new homes, and they pay mortgages like anyone with a traditional home loan. In addition to their affordable mortgage, each family contributes 500 hours of sweat equity as a down payment before they can move in, most of which are spent in classes learning how to budget and become a responsible homeowner. Volunteers and future homeowners provide the labor in building the homes, while tax-deductible donations of money, land and materials are provided by individuals, organizations and corporations.
Knoxville Habitat is also a Veterans Build Affiliate with Habitat for Humanity International, part of a national effort to provide affordable homes for local men and women who have served our country, as well as a Cost of Home affiliate working toward policy solutions to address the need for home affordability in local communities, the state of Tennessee and nationwide.
Knoxville Habitat has worked with over 700 families in Knox County. For more information or to donate, visit knoxvillehabitat.com.