For many, the dream of home ownership can feel just out of reach. Some are people you might not expect. Nurses, teachers and firefighters that are essential to our community, but not able to live within it because there is simply not enough affordable housing. Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside is bridging the gap, turning those dreams into reality.
There are many misconceptions about what Habitat for Humanity does. Many expect they are rehabbing older homes and giving them to the homeless. That couldn’t be further from the truth. “It’s 100% focused on new home construction. The homes are not free,” stated Mike Sutton, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside. “What really sets us apart from other affordable housing opportunities is we provide a zero-interest mortgage.”
To qualify for a home, program members must meet several requirements, including committing to sweat equity in the form of volunteer hours as well as new homeowner education. “No one ever leaves Habitat without information. If they don’t fall in our guidelines, we’ll find another avenue for them. If they have stuff to work on, like cleaning up their credit, we guide them through that process,” shared Sutton. “If we want an amazing community, we need places for the working population to live.”
When hurricanes Helene and Milton hit, Habitat stepped in. While they collected materials for the community, they also took special care of their program members, guiding them through minor repairs, the insurance claim process for the few that needed it and even established a fund to help those who lost their jobs due to the storm make mortgage payments. One thing the storms did bring was more people in need of homes. “We had folks who lost everything, and their landlords just simply were not going to do anything to replace where they lived,” said Sutton.
“Every time we build a home and hand over keys to the family, it’s symbolic of breaking the cycle of poverty,” shared Sutton. To help Habitat continue to break that cycle, they need the support of the community. While donations are always welcome, they also need volunteers and community members to share their mission. If you know someone who could benefit from Habitat for Humanity, or want to learn more about how you can help, visit habitattbg.org.