Habitat for Humanity groundbreaking

Today Habitat for Humanity hosted a groundbreaking for Woodside Park in Simpsonville. 

Monroe Free, President and CEO of Habitat Greenville, said the project has been approximately 12 years in the making.

"It's taken a lot of work but we've gotten here and it's going to be so good for this community and it's going to be so good for the families who are going to be able to live here," Free said.

​Walter Moragne, the Board Chair with the Greenville County Redevelopment Authority, commented on their partnership with Habitat for Humanity.

"For 46 years now, ever since 1974, GRCA has been partnering with community organizations and affordable housing developers to produce affordable and work force housing throughout Greenville County.  We are really proud to be able to partner with our long-time friends, Habitat for Humanity," Moragne said.​  

Mayor Shewmaker commended City Council and the former mayor for their contributions to this project.

"No one will remember what we stay here today, but there are 13 families who will remember what started here today.  They will remember it the rest of their lives.  The City of Simpsonville believes in this project because the introduction of affordable housing into our cities benefits all of us," Shewmaker concluded.

Free reports this project is part of a larger, 42-home initiative; 13 of the homes will be built in Woodside Park and the others will be built in Nicholtown.

Rich Hagins, Capital Campaign Chair and CEO of US&S, said they will raise $2 million for the initiative.

"More than 12,000 families are struggling to find housing that they can afford in this area, and the problem is not going to go away... As citizens of this community we have a responsibility individually and collectively to address this issue," Hagins said.  "The capital campaign will bring together individuals, companies, foundations, and municipalities to fund and develop the infrastructure for the Woodside and Nicholtown sites."

Habitat for Humanity expects to erect over 40 homes in the next two to three years.