Habitat for Humanity working to help solve affordable housing crisis in South Bend

 

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- It was standing room only at a Habitat for Humanity informational session on Thursday, just one day after an encampment on South Bend's West side had officials calling for more affordable housing countywide.

Hopeful first-time home buyers have struggled for years to find affordable housing in the area.

"The down payment for a house is almost impossible," said Andre Bolling, who was one of more than 50 residents who attended the meeting to learn more about securing an affordable home.  "Everything is higher than your income."

Habitat for Humanity has built more than 230 homes for families in St. Joseph County, and they are pushing to build even more homes at a higher rate to help combat the housing shortage.

"It's so important to give individuals and families the opportunity to own their own home and the opportunity to build their own wealth within," said Eliot Jeremiah, the Director for Habitat for Humanity's homeownership program in St. Joseph County.  "So that's why we're here and that's why we serve the community."

Habitat for Humanity is building nine homes in a Mishawaka subdivision by 2023.

The deadline to apply for the upcoming cycle is August 11.

For more information on how to become a part of the program, click here.