What’s happening: It’s good news for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis and the people they serve as the nonprofit organization announces that it has received a $220,000 grant toward the construction of six new homes in North Memphis, construction of which began during their spring building season earlier this year. The grant funding comes from the larger Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee organization, which itself received a larger-than-usual allocation from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency.

Memphis Habitat has received a $220,000 grant toward the construction of six new homes in North Memphis. (Photo: Facebook)Good year: Typically, the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) allocates $500,000 to Habitat Tennessee each year. This year, the THDA allocated $1.5M to the nonprofit, a one-time increase. This, coupled with a $485,000 gift from an anonymous donor, means that Habitat Tennessee has $1,485,000 extra to work with this year. Habitat Tennessee will use the money to build 50 new homes across the state.

Why it’s important: According to Habitat Memphis, 28 percent of Memphians live below the poverty line and many of those families pay more than 50 percent of their income towards rent. The organization has helped more than 570 homebuyers secure affordable mortgages and completed rehabilitation and home modification projects since 1983.

What they’re saying: “Thanks to the support of partners like THDA, we are able to help more families build strength, stability, self-reliance and shelter,” Dwayne Spencer, president & CEO of Habitat Memphis, says in a statement. “It takes everyone to get us closer to a world where EVERYONE has a decent place to live, and THDA has stepped up to the plate to help our community time and time again.”