Officials from the City of Gainesville and Alachua Habitat for Humanity celebrated the addition of new, affordable housing in East Gainesville at a groundbreaking ceremony with community leaders and guests. The event launched the City’s Affordable Housing Property-Donation Pilot Program, turning its unused lots in the Duval community into 11 new homes for low-income neighbours. As part of its commitment to reduce the shortage of affordable housing in Gainesville, the City will ensure the costs of the single-family homes remain permanently affordable.
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The City of Duval granted the title of the first four properties to Alachua Habitat in January, with building of four houses in the Duval neighborhood expected to be finished within two years. The nonprofit developer will then offer the two-, three-, and four-bedroom homes to first-time homebuyers who, among other requirements, engage in “sweat equity” by building their homes. Neighbors with household incomes of no more than 80% of the local median income (as established by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and adjusted for family size) may be eligible to buy any of the cheap houses. In Gainesville, a family of four with an annual income of no more than US$58,550 may apply, while a single applicant with an income of no more than US$41,500 may qualify.
Alachua Habitat affordable housing project in Gainesville
“The city is thrilled to be collaborating with Alachua Habitat to offer new, high-quality affordable homes for 11 families in the Greater Duval Neighborhood.” These houses will improve the quality of life for both the family who reside in them and the surrounding neighborhood. “Abundant housing is the solution to the affordable housing issue, and today brings us one step closer to closing the gap,” Gainesville Mayor Lauren Poe said. “We are pleased that these homes will not only benefit the future homeowners who will live in them, but will also contribute to the continued investments being made in that community,” said Scott Winzeler, Chief Outreach and Development Officer at Alachua Habitat for Humanity.
