Across the nation, Habitat for Humanity is struggling to fulfill its mission to provide affordable housing for low-income families due to the shortage of inexpensive, undeveloped land. Fast moving development has pushed Habitat affiliates across the country to seek more creative solutions as the ability to build affordable homes becomes increasingly difficult.

Charlottesville, Virginia was heralded as the most desirable place in the country to live in the March 30, 2004, issue of USA Today. An influx of new residents and the consequent rise in real estate values has made it difficult for low-income families to afford the purchase of a home in our city or county. Workers have been forced to move away from the city's core in search of affordable housing, increasing their transportation costs. It has been determined that the lowest income families in the United States can spend nearly 40 percent of every dollar earned on transportation, emphasizing the need to increase housing density within the city.

Compact development is a fundamental challenge of the competition program. Habitat for Humanity will increase the allowable site density for Sunrise Park. Under the provisions of Charlottesville's Planned Unit Development (PUD) Zoning Ordinance, Habitat will develop an innovative mixed-income, mixed-use community that offers appealing market rate housing with compact efficient floor plans plus office and commercial retail space.