Open Doors Homeownership Grant -
2011 Recipients

"Thank you so much for the vote of confidence and trust that your funding will be used wisely. We can assure you that it will – and that it is very appreciated!!"
---Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna, Bel Air, Maryland

Cape Fear Housing Land Trust
Wilmington, North Carolina

Cape Fear Housing Land Trust is collaborating with Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity to produce Gideon Pointe, an eight-unit single-family home subdivision in Wilmington, North Carolina. One of only two programs in the state that combine affordability preservation with a quality and stable homeownership product, this collaboration will deed the house and a leasehold estate to the homeowner. The land in Gideon Point, however, will be deeded into the Housing Land Trust, which will administer the 99-year individual ground leases and all re-sales to ensure unit affordability in perpetuity. The homeowners will be participants in Habitat’s first-time homeownership program and earn between 30% and 60% AMI. CAHEC’s grant will be used for closing and settlement costs associated with the transfer and sale of the residential lots that Habitat will sell to the Land Trust for separation of title and sale to the Habitat homebuyers.

Community Housing Trust
Carrboro, North Carolina

Community Home Trust serves lower- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers in Orange County, the most expensive housing market in the Triangle. Ballentine is a new mixed-use development in Carrboro that will consist of 78 single-family homes and townhomes, fifteen of which will be permanently affordable townhomes. While the market rate townhomes will sell for $220,000-$250,000, the subsidized units will cost around $90,000-$100,000. Marketing and selling these homes is the responsibility of the Home Trust, and CAHEC’s funds will be applied toward training and certifying staff as housing and financial counselors, referral fees allowing the properties to appear in the Triangle Multiple Listing Service, marketing and advertising costs, and cash to assist with buyers’ closing costs.

Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth County
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Working with the consulting firm Hispanic Interaction, Habitat Forsyth plans to target the Hispanic community living in Forsyth County to make it easier for them to become homeowners. With this goal in mind, Habitat Forsyth intends to use the CAHEC grant for developing a program of Spanish language training, recruitment, and orientation. This program will include Spanish conversation classes for 20 employees and cultural awareness workshops for Habitat staff and volunteers; creating an orientation DVD, advertisements, and brochures and signage in Spanish; and developing a Spanish-language DVD to explain the application process for becoming a Habitat homeowner.

Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna
Bel Air, Maryland

On July 1, 2011, Habitat for Humanity of Cecil County and Harford Habitat for Humanity merged and became Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna. The merger of the two affiliates will allow the combined staff in this largely rural region of Maryland to reach out to the community to form new partnerships and to families that have yet to be served. The Open Doors Homeownership Grant will help cover the costs of publicizing the merger and introducing the organization to the larger community: new brochures and direct mail pieces, new signage at the home sites, and promotional items. CAHEC’s funding will also help with expenses involved in traveling to more distant parts of the region to educate the community.