Latest Habitat for Humanity Homes Awarded To Nantucket Residents In Lottery

The final units in Habitat For Humanity's Waitt Drive Village have been awarded to two local families.

“We’re gratified to be a part of the housing solution on Nantucket," said Joe Grause, former president and current chairman of the Family Selection Committee for Habitat For Humanity.

The two homes, along with four single-family homes awarded in August 2024, bring the total to six homes added to Nantucket’s Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI). The designation helps Nantucket maintain its “safe harbor” status under Massachusetts Chapter 40B guidelines, which protects the island from large-scale developments and supports long-term housing goals.

Waitt Drive Village consists of six dwellings across three lots deeded to Habitat For Humanity by the town of Nantucket in 2024. The two remaining units are duplex townhomes, each approximately 1,300 square feet in size, featuring two bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, and two parking spaces. Habitat For Humanity anticipates completing construction and closing on the final phase of the two homes over the course of December 2025 and Spring 2026.

Part of Habitat’s mission is to “build hope for families, our community, and future generations.” Since its founding in 2001, Habitat for Humanity Nantucket has built 22 homes for year-round residents.

Grause expressed Habitat’s deep appreciation for island residents and taxpayers, saying, “Habitat wouldn’t happen if it weren’t for them. All the agencies that develop affordable housing, the money all comes from the taxpayers."

Between May 15 and July 17, 2025, Habitat received 40 applications for the two final units. After an initial review, 33 applicants met the eligibility criteria set by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) and were entered into the housing lottery held on June 25, 2025.

Applications were evaluated based on several criteria: level of need, willingness to participate in the process and advocate for Habitat, inability to qualify for a conventional mortgage financing for a market-rate home, and ability to make timely mortgage and escrow payments.

The two families were chosen at random from chips drawn from a bowl. After the lottery, both families underwent a thorough review by Habitat’s Family Selection Committee, which included a home visit. They requested not to be identified or photographed during Thursday's housing lottery awards ceremony at the Housing Nantucket office. 

Like all Habitat homeowners, each family is required to contribute 350 hours of “sweat equity” toward the completion of their home. Tasks may include painting, tiling, and other types of construction work.