HABITAT FOR HUMANITY METROWEST/GREATER WORCESTER RECEIVES TRANSFORMATIONAL $3.5M GIFT FROM MACKENZIE SCOTT
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY METROWEST/GREATER WORCESTER WILL USE THE GIFT TO ADDRESS SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHORTAGE IN THE METROWEST/GREATER WORCESTER AREA.
Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester (HFH MWGW) recently received a $3.5 million unrestricted gift from American author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. This transformational donation will substantially help further HFH MWGW’s mission to build homes, communities, and hope for MetroWest and Greater Worcester families in Massachusetts and its vision of a world where everyone has equitable access to a safe, decent, and affordable place to call home.
“Over the next few years, Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester will use MacKenzie Scott’s generous donation to accelerate the building and repair of homes for families in our communities. In Greater Worcester and MetroWest, the median sales price of homes has increased substantially while homes for sale are in short supply, keeping ownership out of reach for low to moderate income families. Our goal is to alleviate the inequity in home ownership while bringing people together to build strength, stability, and self-reliance through affordable housing. We believe that everyone deserves a fair chance and the power to build their own futures”, said HFH MWGW Executive Director, Debbie Maruca Hoak. “We are grateful for the generosity of this gift that allows us to transform the lives of local families through affordable housing”.
MacKenzie Scott’s total gift of $436M benefited 84 affiliates throughout the U.S., including Habitat for Humanity International, who will use its $25 million portion of the donation to prioritize advocacy and programmatic efforts designed to dismantle systemic racism in housing. Specifically, the donation will allow Habitat International to advocate for policy proposals and legislation that enable millions of people access affordable housing through its Cost of Home advocacy campaign; increase Black homeownership in the U.S. by targeting current systemic barriers through a new initiative that will launch this summer; and leverage innovative capital investments that service communities of color.
“Habitat works to break down barriers and bring people together — to tear down obstacles and build a world where everyone, no matter who we are or where we come from, has a decent place to live,” said Habitat for Humanity International CEO Jonathan Reckford. “This incredible gift helps make that work possible.”
About Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester
Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester partners with local families of all races, ethnicities, ages, faiths, and backgrounds who earn 30-60% of area median income and whose housing situation is unsafe, too crowded, or otherwise unaffordable. We actively work to end racism and unconscious bias. Over 50% of our homes are owned by people of color, and over 75% are owned by single women. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. With an affordable home, families are able to pay for healthy food, medicine, transportation and to save for their children’s education. Through shelter, we empower.