From the beginning, Midtown Redevelopment Authority (MRA) and Center for Civic & Public Policy Improvement (CCPPI) have been committed to making the dream of an affordable, safe, well-constructed home possible for Houstonians who have difficulty making this a reality. There is a desire for these homes to go to long-time residents, so the rich cultural history of the targeted areas can be preserved for those who want to continue to live there.
The need for affordable housing options is so great in Greater Third Ward/OST that information tends to spread organically and quickly within the neighborhood when the builders put up signs and construction gets underway on new parcels.
Meeting the needs of the community
These are new homes built by nonprofits and contractors working with MRA and CCPPI to redevelop the more than 300 vacant lots MRA has acquired in the Greater Third Ward/OST neighborhood over the last 20 years. To keep development costs low, MRA subsidizes the land for the builders at a drastically reduced price. In exchange for the subsidized land, homeowners must agree to stay in their homes for a specified time, which helps preserve stability and affordability in the Greater Third Ward/OST area.
The homes are available to buyers who can meet the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s low-to-moderate income limits for the Houston area, which are a maximum of $66,550 for a single person and $95,050 a year for a family of four.
Participants must complete the Houston Area Urban League Homebuyer Education Program (HAUL) and have a credit score of more than 620. Prequalifying for a mortgage with a lender is not necessary.
Starting the journey to homeownership
Potential homebuyers who are interested in purchasing a home that is part of the Southeast Affordable Housing Initiative can reach out to Glenda Kizzee with HAUL’s homebuyer education program at gkizzee@haul.org, or contact any of the following participating builders:
- Mayberry Homes – Sharone Mayberry – (281) 924-5447
- Agape Homes – Peter Freedman – (512) 351-5750
- Houston Habitat for Humanity – Angela Birch Cox – (832) 276-9905
- Houston Business Development Inc. – M. D. Marshall – (832) 338-2328
It is possible to stay in the neighborhood where you grew up. Take a drive to see the options currently available and then make that call.
More information about the affordable housing program is available at https://midtownhouston.com/affordable-housing/.