Trinity Parish, recognizing the lack of affordable housing in Trinity's neighborhood, developed a West Center City Housing Initiative to renovate deteriorating housing stock and support low income home ownership. On May 24, the first house funded by the West Center City Housing Initiative was sold to a first-time home owner.

Trinity Parish, recognizing the lack of affordable housing in Trinity's neighborhood, developed a West Center City Housing Initiative to renovate deteriorating housing stock and support low income home ownership. On May 24, the first house funded by the West Center City Housing Initiative was sold to a first-time home owner. The buyer purchased her home on West 6th Street after successfully completing the Interfaith Community Housing (ICH) home ownership counseling program. The property had been renovated by ICH, beginning in December 2005, using low-cost development loans provided by Trinity Parish, the First State Community Loan Fund (FSCLF), and four banks.  FSCLF monitored progress and advanced funds on our behalf. Funds advanced by the parish have now been returned and are available for non-profit developers to borrow for additional properties.

The purchase was made possible by an equity grant from funds secured by Trinity from the Jesse Ball duPont Fund and matched by the Delaware State Housing Authority. The grant, available to low-income home buyers, requires that the buyer live in the residence for seven years.

There are four other properties on 6th and 9th Streets approaching completion, and a new developer, with four new properties, is being qualified. To participate in Trinity's Committee call Jim Bray (link to directory). The program we have in place today will provide sufficient subsidy for twenty homes-one down, nineteen to go!