Wells Fargo partners with Habitat for Humanity to try to address affordable housing issue
AUSTIN, Texas — Affordable housing has been an issue many are facing across the country, including folks here in Austin.
To try to address that, Wells Fargo has teamed up with Austin Habitat for Humanity to build a home a family of three can afford.
Darren and Dione will soon be calling this house in Austin Habitat’s Scenic Point Neighborhood their own. It’ll be the first time their daughter will have her own room and space to grow and play in.
“It is a different feeling when a child can have their own room, and they get to decorate their first room, and they’re eight years old!” said AmeriCorps member Cassidy Griffin. “I mean, how many people have experienced that? We never experienced that, because we never thought that’s something to be thankful for.”
Wells Fargo awarded an $80,000 grant to Austin Habitat for Humanity to construct this home as a part of the company’s national effort to build over 300 affordable homes for families.
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“One out of seven Texans spend more than half of their take-home pay on housing needs and, to do whatever we can as a community partner to help ease the burden off of the housing needs of our community, is something that we show a commitment to every day in the work that we do,” said Christopher Rios, regional vice president of community relations and social impact for Wells Fargo.
Austin families struggling to afford rent is on the rise. For Darren and Dione, Wells Fargo’s and Austin Habitat for Humanity’s volunteer effort will allow them to keep their close-knit family together here in Austin.
“That’s something that you can’t measure sometimes on paper,” said Rios. “To be able to provide a safe and loving environment for a deserving family who is just trying to live the American dream, that’s something that we’re just really proud to be a part of in their journey.”
Hammers and nail guns in hand, the volunteers helping to make a house a home for the family were all happy to be able to contribute, even in the hot Texas heat.
“Every single person came out here today to help make a difference in somebody else’s life, no matter the weather, whether it’s snowing, or if it’s 102 out!” Griffin said. “Everyone takes the time to come out to give as much as they can to bring a little joy to somebody else.”
Funding for this new Habitat home is part of Wells Fargo’s $7.75 million donation to Habitat for Humanity International through its Wells Fargo Builds program.
