County Executive Isiah Leggett today signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Montgomery County Habitat for Humanity to purchase foreclosed properties, make necessary repairs and place qualified Habitat homeowners in the properties. The County will provide up to $350,000 per property from the Housing Initiative Fund to purchase up to 10 homes in 2009. The MOU is the first partnership of its kind for a Habitat for Humanity affiliate.

“Creating and making affordable housing available for those who want to live in Montgomery County is a high priority of mine,” said Leggett, “and I am pleased that Habitat for Humanity is partnering with us not only to help families become homeowners but also to help stabilize neighborhoods that are faced with vacant properties. We look forward to the results of this partnership.”

Leggett recently joined Habitat for Humanity officials to dedicate the final twelve homes of a 24 town home development at Linganore Woods in Burtonsville. Linganore Woods is the largest development that Habitat for Humanity has constructed in one site. Leggett has increased the annual funding for the Housing Initiative Fund from $20 million just a few years ago to $53 million in the current fiscal year.

“Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County is delighted to partner with Montgomery County to rehabilitate vacant foreclosed properties and to provide simple, decent, and affordable housing for hard working residents of our county,” said John Paukstis, executive director for Habitat for Humanity for Montgomery County.