To the editor:

On May 6, 6News ran the third segment of a report regarding the high cost of real estate and land in Lawrence. The focus of this segment was supposedly “solutions,” (notice the plural), for those who may not be able to afford a home in our fair city. The Web site offered the headline, “Local organizations try to bring lower-priced homes to Lawrence”; yet, only one “solution” or “organization” was mentioned!

Habitat for Humanity has been in Lawrence for 15 years and provided simple, affordable housing to 55 families — 65 adults and 116 children. Each was a coordinated effort between the city, local businesses, hundreds of donors, thousands of volunteers and the local Habitat office.

In fact, the neighborhood shown in the report is the result of property purchased by Habitat and developed in partnership with the city of Lawrence, Lawrence Habitat for Humanity and Tenants to Homeowners. It includes 13 completed Habitat homes and one currently under construction. In addition, Habitat has 14 more homes on the streets which border the featured neighborhood.

Lawrence Habitat is also being affected by the city’s high land costs. They have been searching the city for the past year for land on which to build their homes. Their goal is to build six homes per year; yet, at this time only three are being built because of low land availability.

Lawrence Habitat for Humanity is a local organization offering a solution to the high cost of real estate in Lawrence.

Norine Spears,

Lawrence