Bank of America has awarded a $50,000 grant to the Wichita Habitat for Humanity as part of their new Neighborhood Champions program. The grant is expected to help fund the Habitat for Humanity’s Repair Program which has helped dozens of homeowners maintain their homes and keep the community thriving.
“Wichita Habitat for Humanity offers a hand up, not a handout, by not only building homes but building homeowners,” said Danielle Johnson, Wichita Habitat for Humanity’s new executive director, in a news release. “With the support of Bank of America, we can continue this mission and foresee continued growth of our repair program, which allows for homeowners to maintain their homes and to keep our community thriving.”
The project focuses on rehabilitating existing houses in low- and moderate-income areas, and it works with qualifying homeowners on a variety of projects ranging from large-scale exterior repairs to small-scale energy efficiency modifications. According to Habitat for Humanity, there is a large backlog of houses that have been identified and require repairs, such as code violations and weatherization help.
Homeowners in need of assistance can apply for the repair program on the Habitat for Humanity’s website. Applicants must live and be current on bills at the address provided on the form in addition to providing proof of current income, a copy of homeowner’s insurance, and demonstrate the ability to repay all or part of a no-interest loan.
Since Oct. 1986, Wichita Habitat has partnered with more than 300 families, providing them with a hand up to create healthy, successful futures. Most recently, Wichita Habitat completed building more than fifty homes in the “Rock the Block” neighborhood and continues to build homes within the community. The grant will help support plans to expand services beyond the 9th and Grove, 13th, and Hillside communities and service existing homeowners in the area with the Repair Program.
“As communities continue to recover and navigate a changing landscape, nonprofits are still experiencing significant demands and are in need of resources to help the demand for affordable housing,” said Shawn Lancelot, President, Bank of America Wichita. “Wichita Habitat for Humanity helps bridge important gaps for individuals and families to help them chart a path toward economic opportunity and stability. Programs like Neighborhood Champions help these organizations grow sustainably and strategically for greater positive impact in the community.”
Alongside Wichita, the bank will bring the program to over 42 additional communities across the U.S. this fall as part of its commitment to investing in the long-term health of communities. The Neighborhood Champions program is invitation-only for nonprofits who are poised to take their work to the next level. Leading members of the community participated in a collaborative selection process to identify this year’s awardee.
The Neighborhood Champions program is an extension of the bank’s signature philanthropic initiative, Neighborhood Builders®, the largest corporate philanthropic investment in nonprofit leadership in the country. Since the program’s inception in 2019, Bank of America has invested $6.3 million in 126 organizations within 42 communities through the Neighborhood Champions program.