ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. - The University of Notre Dame is partnering with Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County to build affordable housing near the south side of campus over the next five years, the university announced Tuesday.

The partnership includes building as many as seven new homes in or near the Northeast Neighborhood, within walking distance to downtown South Bend, Eddy Street Commons and the East Bank.

Notre Dame donated $250,000 spread across five years to build the new homes for low- to moderate-income families.

The university also donated four lots on Turnock Street to Habitat for Humanity with plans to build four homes over two years.

Two of the four Turnock Street homes will be built in collaboration with the Notre Dame Alumni Association's annual Family Volunteer Camp.

The other two will be built with the Notre Dame Student Chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

Three additional homes will be built over three years on Habitat-owned land with the help of the Family Volunteer Camp.

"In 2020, in response to the pandemic and other economic challenges, as well as the changing needs of residents, the Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization Organization developed a broader vision for the organization, focused on direct assistance to residents and a deeper commitment to preserve and enhance access to affordable single-family housing,” said Tim Sexton, associate vice president for public affairs at Notre Dame and NNRO board president. “This partnership with Habitat is an important step in the realization of that vision."

Homes built through the partnership will reflect designs by students in the School of Architecture and the City of South Bend, which has free, pre-approved building plans for individuals and developers in the city.

The partnership helps students become better designers and aids Habitat's efforts to increase access to housing for those priced out of the housing market.

“Habitat for Humanity is needed now more than ever,” said Jim Williams, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County. “Builders today are simply not building entry-level homes; for-profit builders don’t make enough money building entry-level homes. So anybody looking for a quality, affordable but modest home just can’t find it,” he said.

Click here for more information on the collaboration.

For more information on Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County, click here or call 574-288-6967.