[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 20 (Monday, February 5, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E110]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CELEBRATING THE GROUND-
                  BREAKING OF PATHWAY AT HERITAGE PARK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SHARICE DAVIDS

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, February 5, 2024

  Ms. DAVIDS of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 
beginning of an innovative project that will address the critical need 
for affordable homeownership in the Johnson County, Kansas area.
  With the support of volunteers, donors, and community partners, 
Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City (Habitat KC) builds and renovates 
homes to help families achieve their dream of homeownership. Using 
American Rescue Plan Act funding, Pathway at Heritage Park will be 
Habitat KC's first pocket neighborhood development and first time 
employing the community land trust model. Under this model, Habitat KC 
ensures the homes built remain affordable, avoiding skyrocketing 
housing costs that put home ownership out of reach for too many.
  The importance of this project to our community cannot be 
understated. United Community Service of Johnson County estimates that 
40 percent of renters and 20 percent of homeowners in Johnson County 
are housing cost-burdened, paying more than 30 percent of their income 
on housing. At Pathway at Heritage Park, mortgages will be capped at 30 
percent of monthly income.
  Additionally, about 45 percent of the local workforce commutes from 
other communities due to the lack of affordable housing. This project 
is especially important as the Panasonic and Walmart beef processing 
plants are projected to bring more than 4,500 new jobs to the Johnson 
County area.
  I want to thank Habitat KC, Pathway Community Church, and all those 
that have contributed to making the groundbreaking of Pathway at 
Heritage Park a success. I look forward to this project making the 
dream of homeownership a reality for so many.

                          ____________________