More than 12 million children – one in six – are living in poverty in the United States. Poverty is a severe threat to children’s health, growth, and potential. The First Annual Report (“Who Can Afford to Live in Delaware?”), issued by the Delaware Housing Coalition in May 2007, states “…As of 2000, there were an estimated 12,183 substandard housing units in Delaware…and Sussex County is the most difficult area in which to purchase affordable housing.  In order to afford a home at the median purchase price of $270,000, a household median income of $54,200 is required.  The median annual wage in Sussex County is $24,066.”

Sussex County Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit Christian housing ministry committed to building simple, decent, and affordable homes in partnership with low-income families regardless of race, national origin, or religious affiliation.

Habitat homeowners typically have incomes that are 25 percent to 60 percent of the area’s median income.  Due to Habitat’s no-profit, no-interest loans and because houses are built principally by partner families, volunteers, and sponsors, mortgage payments can be kept reasonably low for those families unable to obtain conventional financing for a home.  Two-parent partner families are required to invest 500 hours of “sweat equity” – time spent building their own home or other Habitat homes – make a down payment, and pay closing costs.  The homeowners’ mortgage payments then go into Habitat’s "Fund for Humanity" that allows building more houses with more families in the future.  

Since 1991, through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, the Georgetown affiliate has built 31 homes in Sussex County.  Fifty-one adults and 91 children live in Habitat homes.  

The Habitat affiliate’s long-range plans include building a total of 19 homes in Concord Village in Seaford and several townhouses in Laurel, Delaware.  With your help, Sussex County Habitat for Humanity will build homes with eight families this year.