MEMPHIS, TENN. (Sept. 23, 2025) – Memphis is facing an affordable housing crisis, with an estimated shortage of over 30,000 affordable units. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis has been on the frontlines of that crisis for over 40 years. Today, the organization unveiled plans to create more homeownership opportunities through a new development and an ambitious campaign to serve more local homeowners.

Memphis Habitat staff and supporters gathered for a ceremonial groundbreaking at the North Memphis site, near the intersection of Third Street and Chelsea Avenue, just minutes from Downtown Memphis.

The community will feature 52 single-family homes with a new, semi-attached modern design and will be built in multiple phases.

“This community represents a new chapter in Memphis Habitat’s mission and reinforces our ongoing commitment to North Memphis,” said Dwayne Spencer, president & CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis. “We’ve been building detached single-family homes here since 2013, but after listening to the community’s desire for revamped designs and more density, we are eager to unveil these plans.”

Each home in the community will offer three- and four-bedroom plans, all with two bathrooms, covered entries, yard space, granite countertops, custom white cabinetry, energy-efficient appliances and building materials, accessibility features, and other amenities.

All homes will be sold to qualified buyers via Memphis Habitat’s affordable mortgage program. Interested homebuyer applicants are encouraged to review Memphis Habitat’s program requirements below.

 

Framing the Future Campaign

During the event, Spencer also announced an ambitious, $62 million fundraising campaign to increase the organization’s impact over the next five years. Memphis Habitat’s “Framing the Future” campaign will enable the organization to serve more homebuyers through its mortgage program, provide more senior homeowners with repairs, and support Habitat’s long-term sustainability.

The campaign’s goals include:

• 150 new affordable homes built and sold with affordable Habitat mortgages
• 1,250 home repairs and modifications to help older homeowners age in place
• Building a land acquisition and development fund to plan for future projects
• Strengthening Habitat’s internal capacity, technology, and facilities
• Investing in the Memphis ReStore to increase earned income to support Habitat’s mission

“Memphis Habitat has been a trusted local resource for decades, and our programs are needed now more than ever. This campaign is designed to be transformational – to scale up and sustain the number of families we serve – so we can remain a resource for many years to come,” Spencer said. “Memphis needs more affordable homebuying opportunities and more ways to preserve affordable housing. Habitat is a part of the solution, and the time to act is now.”

Memphis Habitat’s programs serve two unique audiences – aspiring homebuyers whose income makes them unable to access traditional interest-bearing loans and older homeowners with limited incomes who cannot afford modifications to remain at home safely. Locally, Memphis Habitat is the only organization that offers mortgages without added interest to those who qualify and the only organization that provides free home repairs and mobility modifications for older homeowners on limited incomes.

To make the announcement, Memphis Habitat was joined by long-time funders and sponsors who have made significant commitments to the campaign to date. FedEx announced its lead corporate gift to the campaign, a $5 million contribution to be distributed over five years.

Commitments were also announced by The Assisi Foundation of Memphis, Inc.; AutoZone; Bank of Bartlett; The City of Memphis, Division of Housing & Community Development; Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati; Financial Federal; First Horizon Bank; Green & Healthy Homes Initiative; Hope Church; Local Initiatives Support Coalition (LISC) Memphis; and Oasis of Hope.

To reach its campaign goal, Memphis Habitat estimates it has $15 million left to raise.

Spencer shared, “This campaign has been in the silent phase for two years. The organizations joining us today are among those willing to invest as we quietly shaped our vision, and I am so glad we could stand together to share this campaign publicly. Now, we want to invite more organizations, corporations, foundations, and individuals to join us in helping frame the future of the 901.”

 🎥 Relive the moment Memphis Habitat announced their Framing the Future campaign to see the excitement, the people, and the hope behind this historic announcement.

 

To learn more about Memphis Habitat and support the Framing the Future campaign, visit memphishabitat.com/framing-the-future.