Sussex Co. Habitat for Humanity redeveloping county neighborhood, new homeownership opportunities
GEORGETOWN, Del. – It may be an empty lot now, but it will soon be the grounds of new housing opportunities in the Kimmeytown neighborhood of Georgetown. “When we work as a team and when we do things together like this we accomplish a lot. So we’re excited about coming back here and see that people will have a decent place to live,” U.S Senator Tom Carper said.
“Part of our endeavor is to create and improve houses and build new when that needs to happen,” Sussex County Habitat for Humanity CEO Kevin Gilmore said.
Sussex County Habitat for Humanity will use part of its $3 million ARPA funds for a redevelopment plan for the area, which includes the addition of 5 news homes. “Georgetown is a very desirable place to live, right? It’s right in the middle of our county and creates a lot of opportunity and access to work areas around this area,” Gilmore said.
“For us to be able to build 9 owner occupied dwellings in a relatively small community can really be transformational to that community.”
Jeremiah’s House will also be renovated. It’s a five apartment facility that houses AmeriCorps members and offers them a space to live while they serve. “That makes a huge difference because we don’t get paid. We are full-time volunteers, so with a very limited living allowance it makes it difficult to find a market rate apartment,” AmeriCorps Member Kim Morton said.
“I’m originally from Delaware, so it was really important for me to come home and do my services here in my home state. Habitat made that happen for me.”
We’re told it’s moves like this that allows the non-profit to continue to build more, serve more, and be the change by giving Delawareans the opportunity to make their dreams of homeownership a reality.
“We make sure that we can partner with them, that they have sweat equity in their homes, and at the end of our program they have place they can call their own,” Morton said.
Habitat for Humanity tells 47ABC they expect the project to take about two years to complete.
Officials say construction is set to start this fall.
