CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — Habitat for Humanity, which has been making a difference in the lives of families in the region for 32 years, is preparing to develop a 71-lot home project in Hamilton Township west of Chambersurg. The organization’s current fund-raising campaign, known as Finally Home, is seeking capital for creating the infrastructure, with home construction perhaps to start in 2027.
Edenview
The new housing development project known as Edenview, is set to begin the infrastructure phase as early as December. According to Habitat Director of Advancement Mark Story, the project has been in research for the last two and half years.
“There are 71 lots that are being designed that will be used for both workforce and housing,” Story said. “The houses built by the families will be entry level and affordable.”
Story estimates it will take 10-12 months for the utilities and roads to be installed and expects the first houses to start being built in 2027.
Financial Backing for the project
Putting together a development the scale of Edenview is not a cheap venture. Using outside contractors for the infrastructure requires capital. Habitat has received financial backing for the project from various sources, the first being the Impact! Grant from Franklin County.
The Impact! Grant was created to “provide $10 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding for municipal/authority or nonprofit entities with projects that will support recovery efforts in Franklin County following the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the government website.
Another source of backing will come from an Local Share Account Grant from the State of Pennsylvania. According to the Department of Community and Economic Development website, an LSA grant “provides for the distribution of gaming revenues through the Commonwealth Financing Authority to support projects in the public interest within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”
A proud legacy
Habitat for Humanity’s mission is to bring people together to build homes, communities and hope fueled by faith. All the homes built by the non-profit organization are accomplished through the hard work of volunteers and then are sold based on the buyer’s income.
Many of the home buyers also help with the building with what is known as “sweat equity,” meaning that the work that they put into the building of the home is then reflected in the selling price.
Building supplies, furnishings and additional financial backing comes from the organization’s ReStore, which is located in Chambersburg.
While Habitat for Humanity is a Christian-based organization, the group welcomes the opportunity to work with anyone who shares a vision for a better future. The aim is to build diverse communities through hard work, dedication and an unwavering passion to help others.
For more information on Habitat for Humanity and its upcoming projects or information about volunteering, readers may visit https://habitatfranklinpa.org/.
