Comment: So basically what this program is saying is that the US Government can’t do anything collect & redistribute money to non-profit groups who “can” do something about housing the poor…so why not just promote contribution$ directly to non-profit groups directly and lower taxes to the federal government?
Update: 1-23-2015: HUD Awards $10 Million in ‘Sweat Equity’ Grants to Aid Homeownership
HUD just awarded $13 million in “SWEAT EQUITY” grants to help organizations like Habitat for Humanity buy land or build homes for low income residents.
SHOP awards grant funds to eligible national and regional non-profit organizations to purchase home sites and develop or improve the infrastructure needed to set the stage for sweat equity and volunteer-based homeownership programs for low-income persons and families (i.e., Habitat-for-Humanity). SHOP funds must be used for eligible expenses to develop decent, safe and sanitary non-luxury housing for low-income persons and families who otherwise would not become homeowners. Homebuyers must be willing to contribute significant amounts of their own sweat equity toward the construction or rehabilitation of their homes.
Eligible Applicants:
National and regional nonprofit organizations or consortia with experience in using homebuyer and volunteer labor to build housing may apply for SHOP grants. Applicants must have completed at least 30 units of self-help homeownership housing within the last 24 months. Eligible homebuyers must apply to participate in the SHOP program through a current SHOP grantee or one of their affiliates.