PRESS RELEASE; June 1, 2024

National Homeownership Month begins on June 1 and shines a spotlight on the American Dream of owning a home. Affordable homeownership provides families with a sense of pride, a connection to their community, stability, and the ability to build equity and generational wealth. Despite such benefits, recent events may slow the progress of additional affordable homeownership options.

To help maintain affordable mortgages for approved families, Hanover and King William Habitat has been utilizing the USDA Rural Development Single Family Housing Section 502 Direct Loan Program. This program assists low and very-low-income households in purchasing affordable, decent, and safe housing in rural areas. However, USDA has recently announced that the FY24 Consolidated Appropriations Act has greatly reduced funding for its single-family housing programs, and they will serve fewer people this year. With significant cuts in their budget, all of their funding has already been spent for the fiscal year, halting many affordable mortgages across the nation.

In Ashland, Habitat’s STAR development has three homes yet to be fully funded. Habitat initially planned on $540,000 in mortgage funding from USDA that is no longer available. To continue construction and lessen the long-term effects of such a large financial shortage, Habitat is seeking financial support from the community. During National Homeownership Month, Habitat urges individuals and businesses to consider making a financial contribution, in any amount, towards their local Habitat to help them get through this uncertain time.

A one-time or monthly recurring gift can be made online via credit card or ACH transfer through their secure website at hkwhabitat.org/donate. Checks can be mailed to the administrative office address at PO Box 2604, Mechanicsville, VA 23116. NAP tax credits are also available. Those interested in that program can contact Michele McCabe at 804-569-6108 x103 for more information.

For individuals unable to contribute financially, please consider advocating for affordable housing and the funding of USDA’s 502 program by contacting US Senators Warner and Kaine and House of Representatives members Wittman or Good, depending on where you live. Contact your representatives via phone call, an in-person visit, mail, or email to ask for additional funding for this program.

Hanover and King William Habitat encourages you to partner with them through a financial donation to celebrate Homeownership Month, to support affordable housing options, and to continue building bright futures for local families for years to come.

About Hanover and King William Habitat for Humanity

Hanover and King William Habitat for Humanity is a locally run, independent affiliate of Habitat International and is responsible for Hanover and King William Counties. For over 30 years, they built homes alongside families who pay an affordable mortgage. Habitat’s repair program addresses critical repairs around the home. With their help and the help of the community, Habitat homeowners achieve the strength, stability, and independence they need to build a better life for themselves and their families.

By phone to Senators Kaine and Warner and your House of Representatives member, Wittman or Good

• Kaine: (804) 771-2221
• Warner: 804-775-2314
• Wittman: (804) 443-0668
• Good:  (202) 225-4711

Talking points for your phone call:

• Introduce yourself and provide your address, if needed, to prove that you are a constituent
• Share that you are calling to advocate for additional funding for USDA Rural Development’s 502 program
• Indicate that the shortage of funding this year to the 502 program is detrimentally impacting affordable housing development in Hanover and King William county in Virginia
• Without this program, low-income and very-low income community members will not have the opportunity to own a home
• The 502 program offers an affordable mortgage and helps provide economic stimulation in rural communities like ours
• Organizations like Habitat for Humanity rely on this funding for mortgage solutions and without it, families will remain in unsafe, substandard, or overcrowded housing situations
• Please restore funding to the USDA RD 502 program to 2023 levels so that the needs of these rural communities can be met

By online form to Senators Kaine and Warner and your House of Representatives member, Wittman or Good (if you don’t know who your representative is, find out here: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative)

• Kaine: https://www.kaine.senate.gov/contact/share-your-opinion
• Warner: https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactPage
• Wittman: https://wittman.house.gov/contact/
• Good: https://good.house.gov/contact

Suggested language for your form, feel free to adjust and personalize it as you would like.

As your constituent, I am advocating for additional funding to USDA Rural Development’s 502 program. The shortage of funding this year to the 502 program is detrimentally impacting affordable housing development in Hanover and King William counties in Virginia. Without this, low-income and very-low income community members will not have the opportunity to own a home. The 502 program offers an affordable mortgage and helps provide economic stimulation in rural communities like ours and organizations like Habitat for Humanity rely on this funding for mortgage solutions. Without it, families will remain in unsafe, substandard, or overcrowded housing situations. Please restore funding to the USDA RD 502 program to 2023 levels so that the needs of these rural communities can be met.