MILFORD, Del. — Nine new homes are being built in Milford by Sussex County Habitat for Humanity, offering life-changing opportunities for local families, including Charita Briddell and her three children.
“This is not just my dream — it’s their dream too,” said Briddell. “It’s just a wonderful thing to have them have their own space and to grow, and be able to walk around and have their dreams come true.”
On Wednesday, community members and volunteers gathered for a blessing of the homes, celebrating the progress of the project and the future it represents for the families involved.
Sussex County Habitat for Humanity celebrates housing project with some of the future homeowners and Governor Matt Meyer.
Sussex County Habitat for Humanity CEO Kevin Gilmore said the need for affordable housing in Sussex County is urgent.
“Milford, like every town in Sussex County and pretty much throughout the country, is facing a housing crisis,” said Gilmore. “A lot of people can’t afford to buy houses — or even to rent in some cases.”
Gilmore said the nonprofit aims to create paths to homeownership for families who may otherwise be shut out of the traditional housing market. According to Gilmore, one-third of Sussex County residents spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing.
"Which means how much money do you have left over after you have your housing costs you to do the other things in life that are important?" said Gilmore.
For Briddell, the impact goes beyond bricks and boards.
“And then you're looking at your home. You're like, I'm going to be here. I'm going to live here, I'm going to have a dwelling,” she said. “I have a place where I can move my head. Cause some people, they don't have that — or they're having trouble.”
Gilmore says the first two homes will be complete in the next few months, with construction for the others staggering behind.