In the News

Mayor helps welcome four new homeowners to the 800 block of Bennett Street

Mayor Mike Purzycki was pleased to help welcome four new homeowners to the City’s East Side at a recent dedication ceremony sponsored by Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County on the 800 block of Bennett Street. “This was a long time coming, but it was always the City’s goal to see the Bennett Street project completed as quickly as possible and made available to families for homeownership,” said Mayor Purzycki. “Thanks to Kevin Smith and everyone at Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County who stepped in and took this project on. This block is now on the cusp of coming back to life as we continue to work together to strengthen and revive the entire neighborhood.” Habitat for Humanity’s news release is below.

Holding Up a Helping Hand: Habitat NCC Welcomes Four Wilmington Women to Their New Homes

The vision of Habitat for Humanity of New Castle is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Committed to providing affordable housing for cost-burdened families, the affiliate has been hard at work revitalizing the Eastside community of Wilmington, DE.  On September 30^th, Habitat dedicated four homes in Eastside, Wilmington, welcoming four women as new Habitat homeowners.

The event included a dedication ceremony with each of the four Habitat homes located on the 800 block of Bennett Street. The four properties are part of a 12-unit Habitat affordable housing initiative titled “Amala Way.” Amala has the intended meaning of “Peace,” one of the several core values of the affiliate including hope and faith.

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Nema Bass was living in a Wilmington apartment with mold and a rodent infestation when she learned a friend was buying a home through Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County.

“I saw him get through the program, saw him be dedicated to it. So I gave it a whirl,’’ Bass told WHYY News on Thursday.

The Wilmington University budget analyst took the required financial literacy and home maintenance courses, and did some volunteer work on other habitat projects. Now she’s buying a gleaming new two-story, three-bedroom brick home with a garage for under $200,000.

[continue reading on WHYY]

WITN 22 was on the scene on the 800 block of Bennett Street as Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County announced the completion of seven homes on the Eastside of Wilmington. The seven homes are part of the 12-unit project at Amala Way located on Bennett Street.

The local Habitat for Humanity chapter helps lay the foundation for a brighter future by providing homes to Delawareans who need them.

Marlise Carr and her three children are eagerly counting the days until they can move into their new Habitat for Humanity home in Wilmington. This marks a life-altering chapter with myriad opportunities.

After a decade of rental restrictions and subsidized housing, their dream of homeownership is finally coming true. While the 33-year-old single mother is moving her family only 2 miles from their rental of seven years, this is the culmination of major life changes that Carr has made to give her kids—a 14-year-old son and two daughters, ages 7 and 12—a better life.

Carr’s eyes well with tears when she shares her kids’ plans to decorate their rooms, host family barbecues and make friends with their neighbors on the block.

“It is extremely emotional for me,” she says. “This is our new three-bedroom home, [where] everyone will have his or her own space.… Owning my own property and educating my children about homeownership and what solid financial health looks like is an important gift that I can give to them.”

[continue reading on Delaware Today]

Bank of America Delaware President Chip Rossi has joined the Board of Directors for the Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County. Formerly the affiliate’s Development Committee chair, Rossi is taking on a new role as HFHNCC board president. Rossi’s tenure took effect July 1, succeeding that of former Board President Maureen McDonald, of J.P. Morgan Chase.

[continue reading on Delaware Business Times]

WSFS Financial Corp. announced the WSFS Foundation and the WSFS Community Foundation merger to form the WSFS Cares Foundation.

The WSFS Foundation, founded in 2003, was the philanthropic arm of WSFS Financial Corporation, while the WSFS Community Foundation, previously the Beneficial Bank Foundation, was founded in 2007 and joined WSFS as part of the acquisition of Beneficial Bank.

Combining these two foundations will allow WSFS to provide even greater support to the Communities throughout the Bank’s footprint. The WSFS Cares Foundation will focus on supporting local nonprofits that provide tools for success, with its key pillars of support as follows:

– Community investments
– Affordable housing
– Revitalization and business economic empowerment
– Education and leadership development
– Strengthening those in need

“For nearly 200 years, WSFS has been deeply rooted in the communities we serve,” said Rodger Levenson, WSFS’s CEO. “The formation of the WSFS Cares Foundation will further enhance our efforts to improve our communities and to promote inclusion and diversity. We look forward to supporting a variety of initiatives aligned with our foundation’s pillars.”

[continue reading on Delaware Business Now]

Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County CEO, Kevin Smith, joined Pastor Chelsea Spires, the Associate Pastor at Grace United Methodist Church and Riverfront United Methodist Church, for a Fireside Chat on HFHNCC’s birthday (Sunday, June 6, 2021) to discuss HFHNCC’s mission and faith.

Habitat for Humanity has launched a new statewide Pilot Repair Program for individuals and families impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

The program aims to help families coping with the pandemic and related issues deal with repairs or other home maintenance issues they are too sick to deal with or can’t afford.

It’s a joint effort from Habitat for Humanity New Castle and Sussex Counties.

“We’re getting a lot of requests – as Sussex County is also getting – from people who need Healthy Home Repairs,” said Beverly Ward, Director of Family Services for Habitat for Humanity in New Castle County. “For example, maybe they have asthma and there’s issues with their heating system and it’s clogged up – maybe their filter. Or maybe they have carpet and the carpet is in disrepair and that’s making their asthma act up.”

[continue reading on Delaware Public Media]

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a ripple effect on families throughout Delaware, including their housing. With more families and individuals sheltering in place, issues such as leaking roofs, no working heat and inadequate railings have come to the surface as urgent issues to resolve.

Thanks to two gifts from the Welfare Foundation and Barclays, Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County, in conjunction with Sussex County Habitat for Humanity, is launching a pilot Healthy Homes Repair program for those impacted by COVID-19.

[continue reading on Coastal Point]