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Habitat for Humanity seeks city-owned land for affordable homes in Odessa
Summary
Habitat for Humanity representatives asked Odessa leaders to partner on three city-owned tracts and other properties to build modest, low-cost homes aimed at households earning 30–60% of area median income; council directed staff to return with a memorandum of understanding for due diligence.
Habitat for Humanity representatives told Odessa city officials on June 10 that the nonprofit wants to develop several city-owned tracts to build inexpensive owner-occupied houses for low-income households.
Jeff Myers, a Habitat representative, said the organization “does the development work” and “we're the builder too, so we have our own full time construction team,” describing a model in which Habitat installs streets and utilities, builds homes with volunteers and sells them to qualifying buyers on a 0% interest mortgage.
The nonprofit said it serves households earning roughly 30%–60% of area median income, typically single-parent families and workers such as teachers and hospital staff. Myers said typical monthly payments including taxes and insurance are about $700 and that homes are usually about 1,100–1,200 square feet. Buyers complete 250 hours of “sweat equity” and a homebuyer education class before closing.
Why it matters: Habitat says there is a persistent shortage…
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