Habitat for Humanity will build 48 affordable homes for New Yorkers

In New York City, and the rest of the country, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find affordable housing. To combat this, the Habitat for Humanity NYC announced a plan to build affordable houses for buyers in Brooklyn and Queens. The organization, aimed at constructing quality housing for families in need, will bring 48 units of affordable homes to these boroughs by redeveloping abandoned or foreclosed properties. Since most of these homes have been left vacant for decades, many are run-down and have negatively impacted the surrounding neighborhoods. As Brick Underground learned, the city’s Housing Authority first acquired these properties and then sold them to Habitat for Humanity at $1 each.

Three abandoned homes Habitat for Humanity will renovate

One project, Queens Phase Two, includes a collection of 20 single-family homes in Queens and three in East Flatbush. The second project, SEED, comprises three buildings with a 25-unit development in Brownsville. SEED, lined up to be the second-largest multi-family development that the organization ever built, was financed through Mayor de Blasio’s Housing New York plan. To keep utilities feasible for homeowners, the units will be EPA Energy Star and Enterprise Green Communities certified.

The main goal behind these projects is to transition lifelong renters into homeownership. Habitat for Humanity NYC hopes to target families earning between 50 and 80 percent of the city’s average median income (AMI). The organization also created programs that work with buyers to understand their credit and other factors before they purchase.

Both prices of the affordable homes and a timeline for the projects remains unclear as of now. However, the prices of the houses are expected to fall in the range of $250,000 to $300,000. Applications open this fall and will run through the winter of 2018. More details on registration can be found on Habitat for Humanity NYC’s website here.

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Images courtesy of Habitat for Humanity NYC’s website and Facebook page