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TxDOT to Hold Public Meetings This Week to Discuss Highly Trafficked Roads 6/16/13
Midland Habitat Sees Surge in Middle Class Applications 7/27/12
Shelley Childers
CBS 7 News
schilders@cbs7.com
July 27, 2012
MIDLAND, TX – A non-profit that supports low income housing is sounding the alarm, saying there's a huge gap in the housing market for lower to middle class citizens.
The Executive Director of Midland’s Habitat for Humanity, Alynda Best, says she's concerned after receiving a large increase of applications from families who make too much money for them to help.
Best tells us after closing their application window for the year they realized there has been at least a 25 percent jump in families applying who make too much money for the organization to help.
She says these families are falling into a growing gap, they aren't considered truly low-income, but they don't make enough money to meet the current rent and housing prices.
"They were coming to us because not only are they not eligible for a bank loan, they can't afford the market rates for rental, so that is the problem.”
To qualify for a home with Midland Habitat for Humanity, you must have lived in Midland County for at least one year.
Your present housing must be inadequate and you are unable to find adequate housing.
Your total annual income must fall between 25-60 percent of the median income in Midland County.
You must complete 350 "sweat equity" hours, which means volunteering with the charity.
Even meeting the criteria doesn't guarantee someone a home.
This year they received a little more than 100 applications, and will only be able to build homes for 10.
For more on Midland Habitat for Humanity, please click here.