Sumter Habitat for Humanity announces Senior Cottage homeownership program, application cycle begins April 1

"The need greatly outweighs the solution."

That's what Sumter Habitat for Humanity's Executive Director Theresa White said when it comes to finding affordable housing. And the local nonprofit is looking to balance the scale.

With 37 years of helping individuals and families build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter under their tool belts, Habitat announced its Senior Cottage homeownership program to ensure "nobody gets left behind," White said.

"While our traditional homeownership program accommodates seniors or single-person families, the cottage offers a smaller space to maintain, including ADA-compliant necessities such as wider doors, a toilet and a shower," she explained.

The cottage will be for individuals or couples who will share a bedroom, with at least one applicant being 55 years of age or older.

This program will be offered in addition to the nonprofit's traditional homeownership program. The only difference, according to White, is the requirement of sweat equity hours. Sweat equity refers to the volunteer hours an applicant puts into building their home and others as well as volunteering at Habitat ReStore or Habitat events.

White said the cottages will only require 100 hours of work while traditional homes require 300 hours per applicant plus additional hours for anyone over the age of 18 who will be living in the house.

There are three core tenets Habitat has for both the traditional housing and senior cottage homeownership programs, which is a need for housing, an ability to pay an affordable mortgage and a willingness to partner. Those interested in either program is required to participate in one of the following options: attend one of the three in-person information sessions or complete Habitat's online information session, which is a self-paced PowerPoint presentation.

Application cycle for senior cottage homes is Tuesday, April 1-Wednesday, April 30. Habitat only needs one approved applicant to begin building cottages at the intersection of Jackson Street and Milton Road.

For more information, visit www.habitatsumter.org/homeownership or call Sumter Habitat at (803) 775-5767, ext. 103 or ext.106.