Thanks to recent funding awards from Federal Home Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLB) and the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA), Diamond State CLT will be building three new homes in the Ingram Village development in the Town of Ellendale.The FHLB funds were made possible in partnership with member bank, WSFS Bank.
The Board of Directors of Diamond State CLT had previously dedicated funds to home ownership opportunities in Sussex County, where there is a significant need for affordable housing.
Sussex County has the largest housing affordability gap in the state for a family at 50% of AMI – now at $168,240 for the median home price of $265,000 in 2015 (source: DHC, Who Can Afford to Live in Delaware? 2015).
Sussex is also a very difficult housing environment for renters. Of the 50 states, Delaware has the sixth highest nonmetro area housing wage for a two-bedroom unit at $18.98. There is a significant portion of the rental population that experience housing cost burdens exceeding 30% of their income.
The Delaware Housing Needs Assessment 2015 – 2020 of Delaware State Housing Authority provides data related to housing need in the sub-market that contains Ellendale.
It found a need for homes for at least 710 very low income (≤50% of area median income) households and 800 low income (51 to 80% of area median income) home owners. It also indicated that there are at least 655 cost burdened renters (under 80% AMI) in the area from Milford to Georgetown.
Look for our new homes in mid-year.
For more information, contact Jo Ann Zorb, Home Ownership Manager.