VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Thanks to Governor Glenn Youngkin, 78 projects across the Commonwealth are getting some extra money. On Wednesday, Youngkin announced over $129 million to support affordable and special needs housing in the Commonwealth.
The two local organizations receiving the funds are Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg and Judeo-Christian Outreach Center in Virginia.
Janet V. Green, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg, said she looks forward to building four duplexes and three single-family homes in James City County.
"These funds will help us build more affordable housing for deserving families with low to moderate income in our community," expressed Green.
Green said it is a struggle to find land to build affordable housing in the area. She said the organization is excited to receive $700,000 from Governor Glenn Youngkin's office.
"The more Habitat has to spend to buy land to build homes, the harder it is for us to build even more, so this grant will help us so much," said Green.
In a statement from Youngkin, the governor said, "By keeping homes affordable and available, we are cultivating economic growth, strengthening our communities, and laying the foundation for a thriving Virginia."
Meanwhile, the Judeo-Christian Outreach Center in Virginia Beach received $500,000 from the governor's office.
Kristin Ward, the organization's development director, said the plan is to tear down their current building and replace it with a three-story building. The building will feature a dining hall, commercial kitchen and 38 affordable efficiency housing units.
"JCOC has been planning to rebuild our campus for almost eight years. It's been an eight-year dream that's becoming more and more of a reality," said Ward.