Responding to Community Housing Needs


Loan Fund Success Stories

"They've gained control over their housing future."

In manufactured home parks, the residents normally pay ground rent to a landlord. Even though they own their home, the residents pay monthly fees that never diminish and the land could be sold out from under their homes at any time. That is the way it’s always been, until now.

In 2008, a new Delaware law gave the residents the right to match any offer the land owner received during a sale. Many partners worked together to make Minquadale Village, located near Wilmington, the first resident owned manufactured home park in the state of Delaware.

This project was initiated by ROC USA, a nonprofit lender that helps resident corporations buy their manufactured home communities nationwide. They heard of Delaware’s new law and wanted to get involved. The deal looked promising, but they needed additional capital to make the project a success. NCALL provided a critical piece of financing to close the gap between the purchase price and what ROC USA, was able to supply.

In July, Ken Shaw, president of Minquadale Village Homeowners Association, signed off on a $2.1 million deal that made the association the legal owner of the community where its members live.

"Closing on this property was a dream come true, not just for me but for all of my neighbors at Minquadale," said Shaw. "We owe a debt of thanks to everyone who has made this possible. We had a great deal of support, and we’re grateful."

With manufactured homes making up about 15% of the housing stock in Delaware, the purchase of Minquadale Village by its residents is significant to more than just the proud new community owners.

"Manufactured housing is the largest block of affordable housing in the state that does not require a government subsidy,” said Ed Speraw, President of the Delaware Manufactured Home Owners Association. “Annual land rent increases can cause evictions which can create a burden on the State and other providers. Minquadale homes will now remain affordable.”

According to Keith Timko of READS, who provided project technical assistance, "By taking ownership of the property themselves, the Minquadale homeowners not only have guaranteed the future of their community, they've begun to build equity in their property, and they've gained control over their housing future.”


"Working with NCALL was our best option."

According to the State of Delaware, there are 4,000 substandard housing units in Sussex County. Sussex County Habitat for Humanity has been helping to turn the tide by building affordable homes since 1991. They target families with less than 60% of area median income. Each adult in their partner families has to put in 250 hours of their own sweat equity and in return they own a new, affordable home at 0% interest. The organization receives about 70 applications for homes each year. They started out building one home per year, all run by volunteers. In 2004 they hired Kevin Gilmore, Executive Director, as their first paid staff. Now that they have a staff of five and are producing eight homes per year with many volunteers, they needed a suitable office. That is where NCALL’s Loan Fund came in to help.

NCALL provided a two phase loan to assist Sussex County Habitat for Humanity purchase land and build an office so they can have a permanent place to operate their growing organization.

“We are currently using part of our Restore retail space in Georgetown for our office,” says Mr. Gilmore. “Not only is it encroaching on our retail space, the building is 100 years old, and not energy efficient. Today we are wearing our coats to work. Our office is a hub of activity for our volunteers and partner families, as well as our staff.”

“We did not want the fact that we were acquiring an office to take away at all from our mission. If we had to raise the additional funds to build the office up front, that would mean less money would be going to the families we are trying to help. Working with NCALL was our best option. We couldn’t beat the loan terms and the staff was very supportive and understanding of our mission. All of this process was very new to us. The NCALL staff was very knowledgeable and this enabled the process to not distract from building homes.”

Groundbreaking for the new office was held in April 2009 and scheduled to open November 2009.

The photo shown above is the Roblero family on the steps of their new Habitat home in Seaford, DE.



"Our relationship with NCALL is instrumental in that success."

The NCALL Loan Fund is proud to be a part of New Hope Place in Wilmington's Southbridge community. Interfaith Community Housing of Delaware (Interfaith) is the developer of this 15 townhome community in Southbridge, the city's first designated "Hope Zone".

A Hope Zone is a specially designated area of the city that has been targeted for a long-term revitalization plan where social services and other programs would be intensified.

Interfaith contacted NCALL in reference to financing the project as Interfaith and the Fund have enjoyed a solid relationship for several years. This was a great opportunity to foster a substantial community development impact. As both Interfaith and NCALL are NeighborWorks organizations, NHSA-CDFI agreed to be an additional lender in the project.

Also, New Hope Place will be the first LEED-built residential construction project in Delaware. The LEED rating system is a nationally recognized standard for "green" building practices.

Phill Raffan, Housing Development Manager for Interfaith shares, "We are pleased to be a part of the revitalization of the Southbridge community. Our relationship with NCALL is instrumental in that success."