Delete WardGroundbreaking Ceremony for 10 Modular Homes by Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity, Cleveland City Council, and Champion Homes
Sep 18, 2024
Join Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity, Champion Homes, and Councilman Mike Polensek for the groundbreaking ceremony of Habitat’s 10 modular homes in the North Shore Collinwood neighborhood on Thursday, September 19th.
Councilman Polensek had identified the 1.7 acre property for Habitat and worked to ensure the project went forward, with Council approving the sale of the city-owned land.
Councilman Polensek has long advocated for more affordable single family homes to go up in Cleveland, believing the city is saturated with high-end rentals. Modular homes fit the bill, because they are constructed much more quickly, affordably and with superior construction.
“We need to create single family homes for families with children so they can have a yard to play in,” Councilman Polensek said. “We need quality housing that we can get up fast. And this is a fabulous location, across the street from the Humphrey Sports Complex and Park.”
These 10 modular homes, which will be an addition to the four modular homes that were installed on September 5th, all built by Champion Homes, will significantly increase Habitat's existing capacity to build homes faster to help combat the housing crisis in the City.
Habitat, which is committed to helping people afford homes, sells to families at a 0% interest mortgage and low closing costs. Families have to provide volunteer hours for Habitat as well as take home maintenance and financial literacy classes. Because Habitat is the lender, they ensure that the mortgage is no more than 30%, and usually closer to 20%, of the family income.
As a result of the efforts of Councilman Polensek (Ward 8), and his Council colleagues, Greater Cleveland Habitat received $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding from City Council. The 19 modular homes being installed in Cleveland neighborhoods are receiving some of that financial support, with each home receiving $90,000.
The 10 homes in Ward 8 will all be 3-bed, 2-bath, 1,350 sq. ft. with full basements and garages. The homes will be built with aging-in-place in mind, and are ENERGY STAR® certified which provides better indoor air quality, and reduced energy costs for homeowners.
"We are so excited to add 10 more modular homes to the four we installed earlier this month. The rate at which Champion Homes delivers durable and efficient modular homes promptly takes us closer to completing our 400-Home Initiative," said John Litten, President and CEO of Greater Cleveland Habitat. "None of this would be possible without Champion Homes, who have consistently met every deadline in producing and delivering our quality modular homes.”
Councilman Polensek added, "I wish to commend and thank the Officers and Board of Habitat for Humanity for taking up this cause and bringing about this construction in the North Shore Collinwood Ward 8 community.
"I wish to also thank my Colleagues in Cleveland City Council for supporting my efforts with a commitment of City Funds. This, I hope, is the beginning of a new wave of new housing opportunities in the Greater Collinwood and Glenville neighborhoods as well as city-wide.”
“We are thrilled to support the vision of Habitat and the City of Cleveland. This project is the perfect example of how our offsite home construction solutions can deliver affordable new housing efficiently, all with excellence in design and quality," said Mark Yost, Champion Homes President and CEO. "We are dedicated to providing innovative offsite solutions that address the urgent need for quality attainable housing across Greater Cleveland.”
Who: Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity CEO John Litten, Ward 8 Councilman Mike Polensek, and Champion Homes
What: Groundbreaking ceremony for 10 modular homes
When: 10:15 am, Thursday, September 19th
Where: East 164th Street and Grovewood Avenue