Powerful Partnerships
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Fort Wayne’s homeownership program empowers Allen County residents to increase their strength, stability, and self-reliance by helping hard-working, low- to middle-income families build and purchase their own homes. In 2023, Habitat served 20 families—and in 2024, they will serve a record 26 families, thanks to new and innovative collaborations.
Habitat’s model for homeownership includes enlisting volunteers to build homes. But they’ve built upon that to increase their capacity for builds each year, through collaborations with homebuilders such as D.R. Horton and Lancia Homes, whose employees and trade partners take on complete builds from start to finish.
As Habitat kicks off another build year this April, they also announced another exciting partnership—the Innovative Housing Showcase with the City of Fort Wayne and Royal Developments, LLC, a locally-owned housing developer. The Innovative Housing Showcase is an opportunity to introduce and test four distinct new construction types in the Fort Wayne housing market.
Three Squared Container Model
Uses steel containers in place of wood for the main structural elements of housing construction.
Houm. Model
Digital fabrication and industrial scale production similar to the process used in the automotive industry or furniture manufacturing are used to create efficiencies in the housing construction process.
New Energy Homes Model
A post-frame building technique provides better insulation and results in a much more energy-efficient home than standard construction.
Volumod Modular Model
Prefabricated modules assembled on-site to create customizable and cost-effective housing units.
This project is designed to revolutionize traditional housing approaches by integrating innovative designs, sustainable materials, and efficient construction methods.
Habitat Partner Families will purchase homes from the Innovative Housing Showcase, which will be constructed in Fort Wayne’s East Central Neighborhood.
Upon completion of construction this fall, the City will invite the public to walk through each of the models to experience the finished product.
"We're delighted and excited to partner on the Innovative Housing Showcase with Royal Developments,” explained Jeremy McClish, Habitat CEO. “The grant requirements attached to the Showcase require purchasers to have low- to moderate incomes—which is a natural fit for Habitat Partner Families. This project is just another creative way that we're collaborating with community partners to increase the number of families we're able to serve in Greater Fort Wayne."
"I am beyond grateful for this opportunity. This program has opened up doors for me to provide security and financial stability for my family. Thank you!" — Ciaira, Habitat Homeowner
Thank you, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Fort Wayne, for creating powerful partnerships that uplift Allen County residents!