How Habit for Humanity plans to build 450 homes in OKC

By: Kathryn McNutt//The Journal Record//March 25, 2024/

OKLAHOMA CITY?– Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity is ready to begin building its largest affordable housing development to date on 160 acres at NW 150th Street?and Morgan Road.

“When complete, Cornerstone Creek will have 450 well-built, energy-efficient new houses, three parks with workout stations and a gazebo, as well as crucial access to Piedmont’s excellent schools,” COHFH Chairman and CEO Ann Felton Gilliland said.

The infrastructure has been installed for the first 91 houses, which should be ready for future homeowners in about two years, Gilliland said.

A groundbreaking celebration is scheduled for April 2 and construction will start within the month. It will take six to eight years to complete the entire development, she said.

COHFH is taking applications now for the 3- and 4-bedroom houses that will range from 1,100 to nearly 1,600 square feet.

Gilliland said Oklahoma and the nation continue to experience a crisis when it comes to affordable housing.

“It’s really come to the forefront now. Even our state legislators are looking at it, and they really haven’t in the past,” she said. The National Association of Realtors reports about one-third of home sales go to first-time buyers. In 2023, 38% of first-time buyers said saving for a downpayment was the most difficult step in the finance process, according to NAR data.

The typical downpayment for first-time buyers was 8% last year, which is the highest share since 1997. Nealy 1 in 4 (23%) said they used a gift or loan from friends or family for the down payment, the NAR reported.

“Down payments are really a sticking point for most of our families,” Gilliland said. Habitat provides a pathway to ownership by having buyers put 100 hours of “sweat equity” into a building project in lieu of a down payment and closing costs.

COHFH has built more than 1,093 homes for limited-income homeowners since 1990. For the past 15 years, it has helped more than 700 homeowners in need with home repairs and mobility and winterization improvements.

The nonprofit started by building single homes on infill lots and it continues to do that, but Gilliland said developing entire additions makes for more efficient use of volunteers and construction crews.

The $2.3 million raised to purchase the 160 acres for Cornerstone Creek (correction, the money is being used in Phase I of building at Cornerstone Creek). A $1.5 million donation was also made by the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation in memory of the late Dr. David R. Brown. The groundbreaking will also honor of the Cornerstone Crew, a group of seasoned Habitat volunteers who are going strong after nearly 25 years.

Cornerstone Creek will be COHFH’s fourth big development. The first, Hope Crossing at NE 78th Street and Kelley Avenue, contains 217 houses. Faith Landing at SW 59th Street and County Line Road has 33 homes. And Legacy Estates addition, completed two years ago near Wilshire Boulevard and Council Road, has 146 houses.

Gilliland said each has a homeowners’ association to provide resources to maintain the green belts and park.

Homeowners must obtain a home loan and make the mortgage payments. To qualify, applicants must have an annual income of at least $43,000. They can earn up to $90,000 depending on the size of the family.

Families come in all sizes and ages. The demographics of homeowners who moved in between January 2018 and March 2023 show that 41% are Hispanic, 22% are Black, 17% are White, 16% are Asian and 4% are Middle Eastern.

The last three homeowners to purchase Habitat homes are:

Joshua, a longtime apartment dweller who works two jobs. His house is in northwest Oklahoma City. “My daughter needs a room to grow up in and there’s a place for my dog. I can have cookouts here with family and holidays can be here as well.”

Olga, a state employee who wanted a safe house where she could raise her teenage grandson. Her house is in Spencer. “Thank you for making this a reality for me. I am so grateful for the opportunity.”

Hugo, a construction foreman and father of four children, ages 24 to 5, who purchased a house in Blanchard. “I applied and within a few weeks, they got back to me, and I was qualified. I’m just so grateful that God brought me to Oklahoma. I really like the town.”

Providing people opportunities for decent and affordable housing is good for them and good for the economy, Gilliland said.

“Research shows that homeownership means healthier families, more children benefit from enhanced educational opportunities and homeowners are more financially secure and able to reinvest money into their community,” she said.

For more information about COHFH, go to the website at www.cohfh.org.

How Habit for Humanity plans to build 450 homes in OKC | The Journal Recor