Ellendale subdivision hosts event

Three home developers recently collaborated in Ingram Village to host a new homes event dedicated to building community through affordable housing.

Sussex County Habitat for Humanity, Diamond State Community Land Trust and Gallynhouse Builders opened three new homes, with two currently up for sale, at the new community just off Washington Street in Ellendale.

The triple open house began with a dedication and bi-lingual blessing for Marlin Herrera and her two young children, who recently secured financing and moved into their new home, built by Sussex County Habitat for Humanity.

“Sussex County Habitat seeks to put God’s love into actions by building houses and hope for the community,” said Executive Director Kevin Gilmore. “Marlin, soon, this house will be yours. May this opportunity change yours, and the lives of your children,” he said, adding, “Es una oportunidad grande.”

This is the fifth house built by Habitat for Humanity in Ingram Village, Gilmore said, and the low-to-no interest loans they provide make housing affordable for those who apply for and receive the new homes.

Further up the street, Diamond State Community Land Trust followed the dedication and blessing with an own open house and information session about the new house they recently completed in Ingram Village, their first in Sussex County.

According to the land trust’s Homeownership Program Manager JoAnn Zorb, the home on Gladys Street is one of three that her organization plans to build and sell, with homeownership qualifications based on income requirements.

The land trust buys property and builds homes Zorb said, and when prospective buyers qualify for a mortgage, they enter into a long-term lease agreement for the property with the land trust, and buy the house. The agreement limits resale and makes the home transferable among family as an investment in community.

“Since 2006 we’ve been promoting sustainable use of land,” she said. “Our work here in Ingram Village is just beginning; its three homes right now.”

The land trust has partnered with NCall Loan Fund to ensure permanent affordability for the single-family, high energy-efficiency homes they build.

The event wrapped with another open house, also on Gladys Street, showing one of Gailynhouse Builders’ model homes available in the new subdivision, which boasts homes that are affordable and move-in ready, with no homeowners association fees and within walking distance of the Ellendale Post Office.

For more information about Ingram Village, go to www.ingramvillage.com.

For information about Sussex County Habitat for Humanity, go to www.sussexcountyhabitat.org.

For information about the Diamond State Community Land Trust and income requirements, go to www.diamondstateclt.org.