Habitat CFC receives $5 million gift from MacKenzie Scott, part of $436 million gift to Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County, Habitat for Humanity International and 83 Habitat affiliates receive transformational $436M gift from MacKenzie Scott

The “transformational” grant is the largest one-time gift Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County has ever received.

BRIDGEPORT, CT (March 22, 2022) — Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County (Habitat CFC), along with Habitat for Humanity International, and 83 U.S. Habitat affiliate organizations, recently received $436 million in unrestricted giving from American author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. Of that, Habitat CFC received $5 million. This transformational donation will substantially help further Habitat CFC’s vision of a world where everyone has equitable access to a decent and affordable place to call home.

“Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County is thrilled to receive this truly transformational gift from MacKenzie Scott,” said George Keith, Habitat CFC Board Chair. “The affordable housing crisis is affecting many families in Coastal Fairfield County. With this gift we will be able to offer more low-income families the opportunity to become homeowners.”

Habitat CFC will use the $5 million donation to fund their mission of bringing affordable homeownership into reach for hardworking, low-income families in the community.

With a national shortage of affordable homes, housing prices locally and nationally have skyrocketed since the beginning of the pandemic. Through Habitat CFC’s affordable homeownership program, local families partner with the nonprofit to work alongside volunteers building homes, complete a curriculum of financial education and homeownership classes, then purchase a home for an affordable zero-percent interest mortgage. This donation will enable Habitat CFC to expand their efforts and help more families build the strength, stability, and self-reliance of a place to call home.

“When I received the call about this gift, I was overwhelmed with emotion and cried tears of joy,” said Carolyn Vermont, Habitat CFC CEO. “This gift will make a huge impact on the lives of the underserved and marginalized communities in Coastal Fairfield County, especially our Bridgeport, CT community. Thank you, MacKenzie Scott!”

Habitat International will use its $25 million portion of the donation to prioritize advocacy and programmatic efforts designed to dismantle systemic racism in housing. Specifically, the donation will allow Habitat to advocate for policy proposals and legislation that enable millions of people access affordable housing through its Cost of Home advocacy campaign; increase Black homeownership in the U.S. by targeting current systemic barriers through a new initiative that will launch this summer; and leverage innovative capital investments that service communities of color.

“Habitat works to break down barriers and bring people together — to tear down obstacles and build a world where everyone, no matter who we are or where we come from, has a decent place to live,” said Habitat for Humanity International CEO Jonathan Reckford. “This incredible gift helps make that work possible.”

About Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County

Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County seeks to build community and improve lives by partnering with low-income families, community volunteers and donors to build decent and affordable homes in stable and welcoming neighborhoods. Habitat CFC has a proud thirty-seven year history and well-earned reputation for success throughout the region. We are a developer with a commitment to “green” construction, a family service agency, non-profit financial institution, community advocate and provider of over 8,000 volunteer opportunities each year. Habitat CFC transforms abandoned properties into homes for tax-paying, contributing community members. Since 1985, Habitat CFC has dedicated 277 homes and has helped more than 1,100 family members in Fairfield County. Our success rate is well over 95%. Our ReStore, located in Stratford, accepts donations of furniture, appliances and building materials, and then resells them. The proceeds from the ReStore help the organization build more affordable housing in Coastal Fairfield County. For more information, visit habitatcfc.org.

About Habitat for Humanity International
Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity found its earliest inspirations as a grassroots movement on an interracial community farm in south Georgia. Since its founding in 1976, the Christian housing organization has grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.