Standard Pacific Homes stays committed to affordable housing in Charlotte

Habitat Charlotte dedicated a newly built  home this morning as part of its annual Builders Blitz.

Started in 2006, Builders Blitz is a week-long event where home builders build a home at their expense for a family. Sixteen builders participated in its inaugural year, according to Habitat.

But as the economy constricted, the number of participants dropped, to seven in 2007, five in 2008, three in 2009, two in 2010 and 2011 and one in 2012 and this year.

The remaining home builder, Standard Pacific Homes, has been with the program since the beginning, "and they're the last man standing today," says Habitat's Phil Prince.

"Regardless of the economy - and it's been brutal for home builders - Darrell Fries and Standard Pacific have stood by Habitat and the cause of affordable housing," Prince said.

The four-bedroom, two-bathroom house has a front porch and will be bought by a family from Nepal that spent 17 years in a U.N refugee camp before being relocated to Charlotte.