Hollingsworth Awards Homes of Hope $100,000 Grant to help organization build 5 homes for poverty-level families

GREENVILLE, SC – Homes of Hope, a local nonprofit dedicated to providing safe, energy-efficient, affordable housing for low-income families along with job training for men overcoming addictions, has received a $100,000 grant from Hollingsworth Funds. The grant will financially assist the organization in the construction of 5 LoCAL (long-term, compact, affordable, & LEED standard) homes for families in poverty.

Homes of Hope CEO/President Don Oglesby comments, “We are so excited and grateful to Hollingsworth Funds for their confidence in us, and for their generosity. This support will change lives in Greenville. Hollingsworth Funds has proven again their immeasurable commitment to the community. They are amazing partners.”

As a program that solves three persistent problems of affordable housing in Greenville County with one solution, LoCAL Housing provides poverty-level families with long-term, energy-efficient and affordable housing that will appreciate in value. Interns enrolled in Homes of Hope’s Men’s Development job training program for men overcoming addictions participate in the construction of these homes learning specialized green-building skills. As a result, men are equipped for life beyond addiction and the local community benefits from a ready workforce.

LoCAL homes will be available to poverty-level families with incomes of $1000-1300 per month. Because of opportunities including the Homes of Hope men’s construction labor and financial support from generous sponsors and foundations like Hollingsworth Funds, families will ultimately be able to purchase their LoCAL home for $30,000, with a targeted mortgage payment of $300 a month. Moreover, no family will spend more than 30% of their income for housing and utility bills. The grant from Hollingsworth Funds will help to close a funding gap required to construct 5 homes.

Now serving the needs of 499 households throughout Greenville, Mauldin, Anderson, Spartanburg, Clinton, Laurens, and Rock Hill, Homes of Hope has sustained continued growth through its 70/30 model of financial sustainability. As an entrepreneurial nonprofit, Homes of Hope produces 70% of its own income through housing-related activities, relying on the community for only 30% of its income.

Since its inception in 1998, Homes of Hope has developed affordable homes for 499 families and helped 286 men lead restored lives from alcohol and drug addiction.

For more information, please visit www.homesofhope.org or contact Jordon Weldon at 864-269-4663.