VIRGINIA, USA — Hampton Roads directors who oversee Habitat for Humanity are struggling to secure land for their home builds.
Rising costs and limited availability are preventing them from executing a key mission for their nonprofit organizations.
"It takes 12 months from the day you buy land until the day you break ground. In 12 months, we'll be out of land. So, we can't pick families for 2025 until we have land," said Frank Hruska, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of South Hampton Roads.
Hruska told 13News Now it's hard to come by affordable land to build on these days.
Janet V. Green, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Peninsula & Greater Williamsburg, agrees.
"We believe this is not only an affordable housing crisis in Virginia, we also know it's nationwide," said Green. "We can't just go out and buy a piece of property for half a million dollars, because then, the house still won't be affordable for these deserving families with low to moderate incomes."
For example, in 2018, Hruska said a certain plot of land could cost roughly $30,000. In present day, it would go for roughly $75,000.
Those numbers aren't even factoring in other costs to build from start to finish, which would tack on thousands more to the total price tag.
While both organizations are actively building homes on the Peninsula and Southside, they're postponing opening applications for the next batch of homeowners.
"We decided to take a pause, wait until we get more land in our inventory, and then at that time open up the process again to pick the next families. Hopefully, we do something starting by the end of this year," said Hruska.
Both executive leaders emphasized that the families they help aren't given the homes for free. "They are sold to qualified homeowners with jobs, credit scores and a means to pay back the mortgage," said Hruska.
"These hardworking Americans need and deserve an affordable place to live near their schools and near their jobs," said Green.
And people in the community can be part of the solution.
"Maybe they have a piece of land that was in their family for years and they have no plans to build on it, let Habitat know, we will do all of the legwork," Green added.
"Think about if you have any land you want to donate, we love you. If you want to sell it to me, we still love you," said Hruska.
"They could be infill lots, they could be acreage, it even could be houses in need of rehab, maybe foreclosed houses," said Green.
Depending on inventory, Green mentioned her organization could open applications this fall.