(Seguin) — A major undertaking by Habitat for Humanity is being called a game changer for Seguin, and for those people here who are looking for affordable, decent housing.
Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization that has spent decades building new homes for families that are then sold to them through no interest loans. The local Habitat affiliate has been working behind the scenes to try to find a way to build more homes, and to find a way to have a bigger impact on housing needs for people in this area. Recently, it has taken a huge step by merging its operations with the much larger chapter in San Antonio. That move has set into motion some big changes for the number of Habitat homes that can and will be built in Seguin going forward.
Madeline Zwicke-Dalman, the executive director of the Guadalupe Valley Habitat for Humanity in Seguin, says they are excited about this new partnership.
“Guadalupe Valley Habitat has been a part of this community since 1993. In October of last year, our affiliate merged with Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio with one goal in mind – to serve more people through homeownership. Habitat San Antonio has a rich history founded in 1976. They were the first ever Habitat affiliate. Together since our founding, we have built nearly 1,300 homes in Bexar and Guadalupe County – 35 of which are here in Seguin and as we look to the future, we have plans to build many more homes,” said Zwicke-Dalman.
The local Habitat affiliate has been building new homes one lot at a time. It’s a relatively slow process that has moved forward as new lots become available. That process is about to get a major change as Habitat works to acquire a large tract of land at the corner of Highway 46 and Jefferson Avenue. That property will be used to build the first Habitat for Humanity subdivision in Seguin.
Michael Taylor, of Habitat for Humanity, shared the news with the Seguin City Council during its meeting on Tuesday. Taylor says not only will they be able to build nearly 120 new homes in this neighborhood, but it will also allow them to expand fundraising efforts through their ReStore shop, now located in downtown Seguin.
“The reason that we are very excited is that this property, it is about 30 acres so it will support both our homebuilding but its commercial frontage, we would like to use it as a site for a Re-store. Right now, we have a Re-store in downtown Seguin, and they sell home improvement material at a very affordable price which is a service that we provide to the community. That location we would actually like to expand and put in the corner of 46,” said Taylor.
Taylor says these will all be brand new homes that will benefit families right here in Seguin. He says it will allow them to build more homes each year.
“Our plan is for 119 single family homes and again the commercial site right on 46 and Jefferson. We do have some houses that back up to 46. None of the homes are proposed actually front on 46. They would all have a driveway on an internal street and we would build a sound barrier on 46,” said Taylor.
This subdivision would be a first for Habitat in Seguin, but Taylor says this type of community has been successfully built a number of times in San Antonio. He says it provides a significant boost to Habitat’s ability to provide new homes in Seguin.
“What we are proposing here would be the first subdivision here in Seguin but this is something that has been done in San Antonio for about 20 years now, so we have some really great experience and it builds a really good high quality community for our residents,” said Taylor.
Habitat needs the city to rezone the property for residential and commercial use before it can complete its purchase of the land. Habitat Board member John Arnold explained to the city council how this would fundamentally change their approach to building new homes for local families.
“This rezoning really fits in line with existing long-term structure for Seguin, as well as it’s going to make a huge impact on the community. At the zoning commission meeting, one of the words thrown around is that this is going to be a game changer and I can tell you it really is for our area. Previously, we would need to purchase individual lots requiring donations and so this is really going to make it a long-term change so that we can impact families in this area,” said Arnold.
Habitat’s plans to build this new subdivision in Seguin is a direct benefit of the partnership between the Seguin and San Antonio chapters. Zwicke-Dalman says the partnership is paying off and it comes at a time when the need for affordable housing is great in Seguin.
“Over 2,600 families in Seguin are living in substandard or overcrowded conditions or are cost burdened. Over 30 percent of renters in Seguin are severely cost burdened meaning that they pay more than half of their income each month on housing expenses. The medium list price for a home in Guadalupe County is $320,000 which requires a minimum income of just over $92,000 annually. There are a lot of families in our community that do not make that type of income. A $130,000 home is affordable for a family of four earning up to $59,300 annually. This equates to two people working full-time for roughly $14.25 an hour. Our homebuyers are the workforce of Seguin. Our most recent partners are employed at GRMC, CMC Steel and Vitesco to name a few,” said Zwicke-Dalman.
Habitat for Humanity is a charity, but it’s not giving away those homes. It provides a pathway to home ownership, and it requires families to roll up their sleeves and help with the construction process. Once completed, the homes are then sold to the families through a no-interest loan.
“Habitat for Humanity provides a hand up and not a handout. Our homebuyers complete a minimum of 200 hours of sweat equity by working in our Re-store, building on the homes of their neighbors and building on their own homes and through an extensive home readiness curriculum. Habitat homes are required to be owner occupied and maintained. Both of these requirements are enforced by Habitat through deed restrictions,” said Zwicke-Dalman.
Habitat’s Dan Davis says the financial literacy courses are another major benefit provided to their homeowners. They are not just getting a brand-new home — that they helped to build, but they are also gaining knowledge that will serve them well when it comes to managing their personal finances.
“One of the things that I would like to express of what it does for the community, it allows those homeowners to have those 200 plus sweat equity hours to give them a feel of being a part of the community. The other thing is this curriculum that is provided, what it does is it gives them both financial curriculum to help them be successful homeowners and one of the other things that it also does as you are completing that curriculum, it gives you the opportunity to learn how to maintain the house so that once they are homeowners, they have the knowledge there to help them maintain it throughout their ownership,” said Davis.
The first ever Habitat subdivision in Seguin is seen as a welcome addition to an already growing housing market in the city. These are homes that will be well made, and affordable. The relocation of the ReStore is also expected to provide a major boost to Habitat’s ability to provide affordable home furnishings and other goods through a much larger retail space that will now be part of the new neighborhood.
The Seguin City Council unanimously approved the zoning change, which will allow Habitat to move forward with its plans for the project.