MANHATTAN, KS–In honor of National Homeownership month in June, Habitat for Humanity of the Northern Flint Hills and Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) are proud to announce an important partnership. Through their First Time Homebuyer Program, KHRC extends a forgivable, secondary mortgage alongside Habitat for Humanity’s affordable mortgage product.
This partnership opens the door for a broader spectrum of families to access homeownership across the Northern Flint Hills region. Before working with Habitat for Humanity, KHRC only financed existing home sales; however, through Habitat, they can finance speculative new construction, growing their impact in the community.
The benefits of this collaboration are clear in the story of the first family to benefit from both programs. Before homeownership, the homeowner, Sam was dealing with rental costs amounting to 55 percent of their income; today, with combined programs, this family’s housing costs have been reduced to a manageable 20 percent of their income. Other than the financial relief, Sam’s driving influence was his family. He started the process for his home so his children could have their own rooms. When asked about his motivation, Sam spoke about his family: “Every day, my kids would ask if I was going to build our house, and I couldn’t let them down.” Sam stood out for this program due to his unwavering dedication to his own home and the Habitat mission. Even now he speaks out about the program and continues volunteering to help others achieve their dream of homeownership.
Both Kansas Housing and Habitat for Humanity partner with families with 80% or less of the area median income. This shared focus allowed both to bring resources to address the challenge of low-income homeownership, creating additional impact than either could alone. Executive Director Josh Brewer appreciates the clear mission alignment between the organizations: “Kansas Housing is a natural partner for Habitat for Humanity in their commitment to ensuring Kansans have a dignified life through safe and affordable housing. We are thankful for their team’s commitment to creating more impact through this collaboration.”
Looking ahead, Habitat for Humanity and KHRC are committed to maximizing their impact in the Northern Flint Hills community. With a shared vision and dedication to building safe and affordable housing, this partnership’s future looks brighter than ever. Habitat for Humanity is grateful for Kansas Housing Resources Company’s invaluable support.
