World Habitat Day 2009

Let's stand up on World Habitat Day and let it be known that affordable, adequate housing should be a priority everywhere—in our communities, in our towns, in our country, in our world.

The United Nations has designated the first Monday of each October as World Habitat Day. This year on October 5, in New Castle County, Delaware, and around the world, please join Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County in support of this global observance as we come together and declare that the lack of decent, affordable housing is unacceptable. According to the United Nations, more than 100 million people in the world today are homeless. Millions more face a severe housing problem living without adequate sanitation, with irregular or no electricity supply and without adequate security.

New Castle, Delaware County Housing Facts

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the 2007 ‘Fair Market Rent’ (FMR) for a two-bedroom apartment in New Castle County is $923. The hourly wage needed to afford a FMR in NCC is $17.75, or $36,920 a year. Consider the case of a single mother, with two children, earning minimum wage ($6.15/hr in NCC). She would need to work 115 hours a week to afford the FMR for a two-bedroom apartment.

In May 2007, the Delaware Housing Coalition reported only 36 % of Delawareans can afford the median home price of $228,000. Moreover, 26,000 households in DE are considered ‘severely burdened’ by cost of living; spending more than 50% of their total income on housing.

The number of children living in poverty conditions in NCC is astounding. According to data collected by the Delaware Housing Coalition’s 2005-2006 study “The Realities of Poverty,” over 10% of children in NCC ages 5-17 are living in poverty; or one in every 10 children.

How You Can Help

Raising awareness and advocating for change are the first steps toward transforming systems that perpetuate the global plague of poverty housing. World Habitat Day serves as an important reminder that everyone must unite to ensure that everyone has a safe, decent place to call home.

Please be a part of this crucial worldwide movement, and sign our World Habitat Day petition, by going to our website at www.habitatncc.org.

Additionally, to celebrate World Habitat Day, Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County, along with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Wilmington Field Office is hosting a groundbreaking ceremony at our newest Habitat development, Grace Point, in Middletown, where six new townhouses will be built starting in early 2010. Information for this event is listed below.

World Habitat Day 2009

Grace Point, 122 East Lake Street

Middletown, Delaware

See map here

10 a.m.

If you would like to attend our World Habitat Day Celebration, please R.S.V.P. by emailing bporterrockwell@habitatncc.org, or calling 302-652-0365 ext. 108 by Oct. 2.