The spike in home vacancies has created a new opportunity for Habitat for Humanity of Lee County. The chapter has found it more affordable to purchase foreclosed or vacant properties and rehabilitate them, than building new structures. In the coming year, Habitat predicts it will rehab 70 percent of its Lee County work and build about a dozen new. The affiliate says this new source of production stays true to their mission “providing homes at an affordable price to those in need.”

“We’re not moving away from building, but we have found it more affordable to purchase. We can purchase two sometimes three vacant properties in the community for what it costs to build one,” said vice president of communications Trisha Goins. “We’re determined to help turn the housing crisis in Lee County around. That’s why we’re extending this hand-up to the community by moving deserving families into these vacant homes,” she said.

Many Habitat affiliates nationwide are following suit, picking up more than half their annual production from existing structures in the community, she said.

Habitat for Humanity of Lee County is a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating substandard housing in the community. Since 1982, the affiliate has provided 1000 families a safe and affordable place to live.

Through the use of volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds simple, decent housing for families who otherwise could not afford it. Homes are sold to the homeowners at no profit on an interest-free mortgage, making homeownership an affordable reality.