KDA Homes donates nearly $1.6 million in housing to Habitat for Humanity to support affordable homeownership in Ashland

Ashland, Oregon (January 26, 2022) – To help increase housing affordability in Ashland, KDA Homes is donating eight lots to Habitat for Humanity who will work with local families in need of housing that is safe, healthy, and affordable.

The homes that will be built on these lots will be of the same quality and standards of construction, the bedroom mix, material details, and energy efficiency with the remainder of the soon to be built 52 unit Beach Creek community directly northeast of the intersection of North Mountain Avenue and the railroad tracks.

“We feel blessed to be in a position of helping our community by partnering with Habitat for Humanity of the Rogue Valley to provide affordable housing to eight hardworking local families,” said Mark Knox of KDA Homes. “KDA Homes is comprised of five long-time residents of the Rogue Valley who were each lucky enough to have caught a break in life. We’re different in many ways, but I believe we’re all aware that sometimes it only takes a kind gesture from others, and obviously, some hard work by the recipients, to realize their dreams of a warm home, where their children can prosper and feel safe.”

This effort is part of KDA Homes’ mission to provide affordable housing of all types for our community, enabling families to become homeowners who wouldn’t be able to find those opportunities in Ashland otherwise. 

With this support, Habitat For Humanity will select families in need of affordable housing based on each applicant’s level of need, willingness to partner with Habitat, and their ability to repay a mortgage through an affordable payment plan. Habitat’s homebuyers invest hundreds of hours of their own labor, called sweat equity, working alongside volunteers and other Habitat homeowners, in addition to paying an affordable mortgage and receiving financial education.

“Habitat for Humanity is truly excited for the opportunity to bring our affordable homeownership program back to the City of Ashland. We are grateful for the generosity of KDA Homes and their support of our mission,” said Denise James, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of the Rogue Valley.

A big part of this mission is to help create a world where everyone has a decent place to live by building strength, stability and self-reliance in partnership with people and families in need of a decent and affordable home.

“We are currently working with the City of Ashland to create a homeownership model that meets their requirements while still staying true to our Habitat model and principles,” said Brandon Thoms, Director of Programs & Operations at Habitat for Humanity of the Rogue Valley. “We are hoping to roll out qualifications and application information for parties interested in this project sometime in the Spring of 2022.”

“Once the application and selection process is complete, our team is very excited to work alongside Habitat for Humanity of the Rogue Valley to build and welcome eight deserving families into their new home,” said Laz Ayala of KDA Homes.

About Habitat for Humanity

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.

About KDA Homes

KDA Homes, led by the development and construction team (Dave DeCarlow, Laz Ayala, and Mark Knox) has over 100 years of combined experience in planning, development, construction, and local real estate in Southern Oregon. KDA has made it their mission to lead the way in sustainability in Ashland, Oregon, crafting innovative, affordable communities by taking the following initiatives:

1. Building homes that are priced below the median home price in Ashland.
2. Building homes that are solar-powered, allowing homeowners to generate their own clean energy and slash their carbon footprint.
3. Creating Oregon’s first community Shared Electric Vehicle program to promote fewer cars on the road while saving our community members thousands of dollars per year.
4. Using the highest industry standards for sustainability and eco-friendly building by meeting Earth Advantage Platinum and NW Energy Star standards.
5. Designing communities with drought-resistant landscaping and bee-friendly pollinator gardens.

To learn more, visit kda-homes.com.