Topeka Habitat for Humanity Announces House to Home Program
Topeka Habitat for Humanity announced Tuesday, November 9, 2021 the organization’s launch of a new homeownership program – House to Home.
At a press conference held at the CRC Care Center (formerly the Lundgren Elementary School), together with their partners, the Topeka Community Foundation, NetWork Kansas and Riordan, Fincher & Mayo, P.A., Topeka Habitat for Humanity released the details of the program. House to Home is a program to increase affordable homeownership in the Topeka community by assisting Contract for Deed purchasers in becoming titleholders to their home. The program touts the conversion of the home to an affordable mortgage utilizing the legal partners and Topeka Habitat for Humanity as the lender, with rehabilitation to the existing home to promote safety, accessibility and energy-efficiency while the buyers complete their “sweat equity”, to include financial education, home maintenance skills and connection with local resources.
“This initiative is like no other being offered by Habitat affiliates across the country and will leverage the skills and resources of the existing Topeka Habitat for Humanity programs to create a new program that will change the narrative centered around lending, equity, affordability and safety. We are thrilled to be announcing House to Home with so many wonderful partners and look forward to further making an impact in the Topeka community,” said Janice Watkins, CEO of Topeka Habitat.
“The Topeka Community Foundation is proud to support the House to Home program with both a grant and a loan. As we strategically address issues of importance in our community, investing in affordable housing is a priority,” said Marsha Pope, President, Topeka Community Foundation.
The program announcement was held in the Oakland community, as Topeka Habitat for Humanity staff noted that Contract for Deed purchasing agreements are highly prevalent in the community, inequitably impacting the Latinx and Black communities.
For more information about House to Home, individuals can contact Topeka Habitat for Humanity at (785) 234-4322 or visit their offices at 121 NE Gordon Street.
