> To my knowledge, Habitat for Humanity (the developer), does
>not request government assistance (taxpayers' money).
Paul -- based on the info in the newsletters I receive regularly
from Habitat for Humanity, and from conversations with people involved, I
would estimate that about 1/3 or more of the land that they build their
houses on is donated to them by various government bodies -- tax-forfeited
lots, condemned houses that have been torn down, leftover parcels alongside
highway developments, etc.
While not quite the same as direct government funding, I would
definately call this "government assistance", and it's certainly done with
the taxpayers' money.
But the government bodies involved are willing to do this because
they believe that getting a house built on this land, and occupied by
people who will be local taxpayers, is a worthwhile investment. And as a
supporter of Habitat, I certainly agree with them. In fact, I wish the
city of Minneapolis would do more of this. Last summer I was lit-dropping
for DFL candidates in several areas of the city, and I was astonished to
see how many empty lots there are in some areas (especially the 5th, 6th, &
8th wards). Down in my neighborhood (12th ward) there are few empty lots,
and they seem to be bought up and built on quickly.
Tim Bonham, Standish-Erickson, Ward 12
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