Senator Carper Highlights Affordable Housing Investments in Sussex County

Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) joined leaders from Sussex County Habitat for Humanity, County Administrator Todd Lawson, County Council members Mike Vincent and John Rieley, and Sussex County Director of Community Development and Housing Brandy Nauman at Habitat for Humanity’s Jeremiah House to highlight affordable housing investments in Sussex County.

At the event, Sen. Carper announced a congressionally directed spending grant of $1,862,000 million for Sussex County Habitat for Humanity to fund construction costs on 15 single-family homes in Sussex County and replace the HVAC system in Sussex County Habitat for Humanity’s Jeremiah House, which provides temporary housing for visiting volunteers and families. This funding, secured by Senators Carper and Chris Coons, and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.), will help Habitat with its mission to provide safe, affordable housing in Sussex County.

“Homeownership strengthens families and communities, and creates the possibility of building generational wealth,” said Senator Carper. “Through funding that our delegation supported in American Rescue Plan Act, and this new $1.8 million congressionally directed spending grant for Sussex County Habitat for Humanity, Sussex County will now have hundreds more affordable housing options for residents. Together, we are working to make homeownership a reality for families across the First State.”

“Delaware faces a crisis stemming from the lack of safe, secure, affordable housing,” said Senator Coons. “We need to continue to take action at the federal level to ensure we address this issue, and supporting and partnering with local organizations like Habitat for Humanity ensure we’re empowering the organizations who know the problem best to solve it. I’m proud to have helped secure these funds that will continue making a difference in the lives of Sussex County residents.”

“I continue to hear from Delawareans across our state that one of the biggest challenges facing residents is access to safe, reliable, and affordable housing. It’s why I’ve been laser-focused on bringing federal dollars back to Delaware to create more available and affordable housing units throughout our state,” said Rep. Blunt Rochester. “I’m proud to have worked alongside Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons to secure this critical investment in Sussex County Habitat for Humanity’s important work that responds directly to one of our state’s most pressing needs. I’ll continue my efforts in Congress to bring more affordable housing and homeownership opportunities to Delawareans, including working with my colleagues to get my Reducing Regulatory Barriers to Housing Act – legislation to create more affordable housing units and lower the cost of housing – passed and signed into law.”

“This type of federal support is significant to helping more people in Sussex County secure affordable homeownership,” said Kevin Gilmore, CEO of Sussex County Habitat for Humanity. “Each new homeowner is a success story and brings us one step closer to resolving the affordable housing crisis.  Let’s continue to build on these successes.”

Earlier this summer, Sussex County government announced its third disbursement of grants from the Sussex County Housing Trust Fund to four nonprofit housing organizations thanks to the American Rescue Plan Act, legislation championed by Carper, Coons and Blunt Rochester. This round of $1.6 million brings the total funding to $6.1 million over the past three years and, with this round, Sussex County will have created or preserved 250 affordable housing units. The nonprofits awarded this funding are Sussex County Habitat for Humanity, Homes for America, CHEER $500,000, and the Laurel Redevelopment Corporation.

“Sussex County is thankful to Sen. Carper and the rest of the Delaware delegation for their commitment in helping to address housing affordability. It’s an issue that certainly requires teamwork, at all levels of government and across the political spectrum,” Sussex County Councilman Michael H. Vincent said. “Partners like Habitat for Humanity are also integral in meeting the challenge so that families today and in the generations to come can still realize the American Dream of home ownership.”