Bremerton group awarded ‘sweat equity’ HUD funds

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded nearly $3 million in “sweat equity” funds to Community Frameworks, Inc., of Bremerton to produce at least 159 self-help units for low-income families

Community Frameworks was one of four organizations to win a total of $26.6 million funding today to produce 1,477 sweat equity units under HUD’s Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP) program.

Since Congress established the SHOP program in 1996, Community Frameworks has used SHOP funds to help build 2,826 self-help houses. Up to $15,000 in SHOP funds per home may be used to purchase land and install or improve infrastructure at a cost of no more than $15,000 per dwelling unit.

Actual construction includes substantial “sweat equity” of volunteers, including the family that will own the home.

“These grants are about families devoting their own sweat and labor into their American Dream,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. “With the help of these organizations and volunteers, families are able to see that dream become reality, brick by brick.”