Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County receives $150,000 grant to launch Homeownership Training Center
Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- The Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County announced they've received a $150,000 grant from KeyBank and the KeyBank Foundation to launch its new Homeownership Training Center and home office.
HFHSJC officials say the new space, a renovated former medical building in Mishawaka, will be twice the size of its current location and large enough to accommodate their organization's growth, allowing for more services.
“KeyBank has been an engaged partner with Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County for years,” said Jim Williams, President and CEO of HFHSJC. “We so appreciate their commitment to help address the housing affordability crisis in our community and their investment in our new Homeownership Training Center. The positive impact of the financial and home ownership education families will receive will be felt for years to come.”
Over the next three years, officials say the non-profit aims to welcome 3,000 individuals into the new training center to learn about the homeownership programming, offer classes to around 95 families, present information on construction and home maintenance, budgeting, life insurance, and estate planning, and utilize the space to host informational sessions, celebrations, and other events, while partnering with local organizations on coinciding missions.
HFHSJC officials say they plan to address Black homeownership rates with its new Advancing Black Homeownership initiative.
The non-profit says it's dedicating efforts to educate Northern Indiana community members of the history of discrimination as well as continued inequities in housing.
Officials say they will be creating additional home-build and roof repair/replacement opportunities specifically for Black homeowners.
By 2027, officials say they plan to build 30 homes for Black families of St. Joseph County by empowering an estimated 80 adults and children who would have otherwise been excluded from homeownership to have access to decent, stable, affordable housing.