HopeBuilder Breakfast nets $57K for Habitat
Nearly 200 people attended the second annual Sussex County Habitat for Humanity HopeBuilder Breakfast Nov. 13.
During the one-hour inspirational program held at Delaware Technical Community College, generous donors contributed $57,300 and three significant gift-in-kind pledges. These donations will help the organization build and rehabilitate homes for affordable homeownership, revitalize neighborhoods, and provide financial literacy coaching to Sussex County families.
Madeleine Overturf, a broadcast journalist at WRDE Coast TV, served as the morning’s emcee. Scott Lanham, president of Accessible Home Builders, was the keynote speaker.
The event also highlighted 11 Sussex County Habitat business partners, organizations that volunteer, donate and advocate for local families in need.
Kevin Gilmore, Sussex County Habitat executive director, spoke about the need for affordable housing in the county.
“Without Habitat, our partner families would continue to live in unsafe or unhealthy conditions, and homeownership would be out of reach. These future Habitat homeowners care for our veterans, build our houses, provide the food we eat, support our troubled youth, beautify our homes, care for our elderly, grow our food, and cook in our restaurants,” said Gilmore. “But it’s not just those who qualify for Habitat that need affordable housing. There are many more. I’m often asked the question, ‘What is affordable housing?’ Simply put, it is paying less than 30 percent of your income on housing costs. In Sussex County, 48 percent of our renters and 26 percent of homeowners pay more than 30 percent. When you spend this much on your housing costs, there is not enough to go toward your other needs.”
The money contributed at the breakfast will directly help Sussex County families through affordable home construction, home repairs, community projects and financial coaching. The breakfast also kicks off the Annual Fund Campaign for Sussex County Habitat for Humanity, which will continue through June 2020.
