Reporting Stephanie Lucero
story updated 4:25 p.m.
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - On Wednesday, Habitat For Humanity announced a major investment in five Dallas neighborhoods, including some in the poorest parts of the city. The press conference, held at Dallas City Hall, officially revealed the plans.
According to some executives with the Dallas branch of Habitat For Humanity, the “Dream Dallas” plan will be one of the largest projects of its kind. The Dream Dallas project includes constructing new homes and refurbishing others that are rundown.
Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity is spending $100 million on the project.
An estimated 1,000 homes will be constructed and refurbished by 2014, all in parts of the city which have been underserved for decades.
“In the 21st century we realize we have to move our vision to revitalize Dallas neighborhoods that need it the most,” explained Bill Hall, CEO of Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity.
The Dallas Dream project aims to revitalize areas by providing homes for low- to moderate-income earners. According to Habitat officials the average house will cost between $85,000 and $105,000, depending on the location.
“Dallas Habitat is looking to transform these impoverished areas into neighborhoods people want to call home, and break the cycle of poverty for deserving families in Dallas,” said Hall.
Habitat For Humanity will also be buying land and properties that have become a nuisance, in hopes to use that space for military veterans and senior citizens.
The five Dallas neighborhoods being targeted in this project are: Bonton, the South Dallas area near Fair Park, West Dallas, Joppa and the Lancaster Transportation Corridor. Each of these neighborhoods will receive a varying number of new homes, along with about 20 homes in each area being refurbished.
Those who apply for the homes are families earning between $20,000 and $40,000 each year.
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8 Comments
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whatever happened to working for a home and earning it?? Maybe we will be all habitat for humanity homes across the USA soon and be true socialist!! Keep the entitlement mentality going folks!!
November 2, 2011 at 8:41 am
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Dan, the article states that people who wish to reside in these homes have to make between $20,000 and $40,000 a year. That means they do work. Veterans have always benefited from their military service. After WWII I know that programs where in place to assist returning soldiers in acquiring single family homes. Helping people and helping neighborhoods has nothing to do with socialism. I think your better argument might be that the tax rate for the rich should be extended so that those rich can continue to support this program.
November 2, 2011 at 9:07 am
Dan, Habitat is a PRIVATE organization which does not receive ANY taxpayer money. If they want to build houses and give em away they can do so and with my blessing. One of the great benefits of HFH is that they help stabilize property values and hopefully help them to rise in blighted area. Crime goes down in HFH neighborhoods as people finally have pride of ownership and take care of their properties. I am a fiscal conservative so please don’t conflate charity with socialism.
November 2, 2011 at 9:21 am
I just did the math. 100,000,000 divided by 1000 = $100,000 per home. I like the HFH program – Just wondering about the numbers. as with any charity, I like to see where the money goes.
November 2, 2011 at 10:03 am
Gentlemen,
Please also keep in mind that those who are recipients of the HFH program have to invest their own “Sweat Equity” by helping to not only build their own home, but to assist in the building of others. And, there are volunteers who help out of the goodness of their hearts. Also, fellow home builders and home supply companies donate products that go into the homes. What doesn’t go into the homes, HFH have “Resale” outlets that carry items that will sell to the public, giving HFH additional funds.
The HFH is an excellent program. Please look into it and understand it a little more clearly…they welcome help each weekend in different areas of different counties about the NT area. Get in touch with them, and help out a weekend or two per year…it really builds character and gives back to the community!!
November 2, 2011 at 1:42 pm
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