By BRAD GASKINS / Staff Writer

CALERA – Greater Birmingham Habitat for Humanity is moving forward with development of the Shiloh Creek Subdivision, with assistance from a $98,000 Affordable Housing Program grant through BancorpSouth and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas.

“Working with Birmingham Habitat on the Shiloh Creek development gives BancorpSouth the chance to address a critical need in an area right in our back yard” said Buffy Murphy, the assistant vice president of community affairs and compliance at BancorpSouth.

Habitat is “excited about the opportunity to expand its services in Shelby County,” Habitat Vice President of Marketing and Development Beth Jerome said March 17.

Shiloh Creek will be one of Calera’s first affordable housing subdivisions, providing 30 affordable, quality homes.

“We were very limited in what we have available in Shelby County,” Jerome said.

Not counting Shiloh Creek, there are roughly two-dozen Habitat homes in Shelby County, and only one available lot – in Montevallo – to build on.

Habitat purchased Shiloh Creek after it was foreclosed earlier this year.

Habitat will complete and rehabilitate existing homes and construct new homes on the remaining lots to sell to Habitat homebuyers. Paved roads, sidewalks and plumbing lines already exist in the neighborhood.

Construction is expected to begin in June, with 10 homes completed by the end of the year.

Shelby County residents interested in Shiloh Creek can sign up for a workshop to see if they quality.

“I would encourage people to take a leap of faith to come and see if they’re interested,” Jerome said.