5-in-1: Habitat for Humanity to Celebrate Five Home Dedications in One Day in Lealman
On June 24, five families will receive keys to their homes in the Lealman community
St. Petersburg, FL – On Friday, June 24, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties will celebrate with five new homeowners in the Lealman community in St. Petersburg. On Friday morning, the Jackson, Sampson, Keys, McKinnie-Clayton, and Jones families will receive the keys to their Habitat homes. The 5-in-1 celebration is part of a 10-in-10 campaign – where 10 families will be celebrating their achievement of the American Dream of homeownership in 10 days this June!
Habitat Homeowner Candidates, Agnes Jackson, Mikayla Sampson, Tabitha Keys, Porscha McKinnie & James Clayton, and Chantel Jones have completed the required 28 homebuyer education classes as well as their 350+ required sweat equity hours. They will purchase their respective homes with a zero-percent interest loan through Habitat, keeping their mortgage affordable. These five homes were sponsored by generous community partners including Coca-Cola Florida, Banning Lumber & Millwork, Aegon Transamerica Foundation, TIAA Bank, and Jerry & Mary Miller.
These five properties are a part of a larger partnership with the Pinellas County Housing Finance Authority (HFA). Habitat was selected to develop twelve scattered-site homes within the Lealman Community Redevelopment Area to be sold to families at or below 80% area median income. The 12 total properties have an approximate $1.2 million in current market value and will be held in a community land trust which will ensure their affordability generations to come. This is also part of Habitat’s targeted efforts to provide affordable homeownership within the Lealman community with an anticipated 20 more homes to be constructed in the upcoming months. The partnership will help revitalize the community, increase homeownership and affordable housing options, and strengthen the neighborhood’s overall economic stability.
Habitat staff, elected officials, sponsors and volunteers will gather with the five families as they receive their keys beginning at 9:00 AM on Friday, June 24. Dedications will occur every half hour until 12:30 pm.
WHO: Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties, local elected officials, homeowner families, community partners including representatives from the home sponsors including Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC, Banning Lumber & Millwork, Aegon Transamerica Foundation, TIAA Bank, and Jerry & Mary Miller
WHAT: Five home dedications in St. Petersburg
WHERE: Starting at 3999 54th Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL
WHEN: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
FULL SCHEDULE
Jackson Family Home Dedication (sponsored by Coca-Cola Florida)
Friday, June 24- 9am
3999 54th Avenue North, St. Petersburg
Sampson Family Home Dedication (sponsored by Banning Lumber)
Friday, June 24- 9:45am
3999 56th Avenue North, St. Petersburg
Keys Family Home Dedication (sponsored by Transamerica)
Friday, June 24 – 10:30am
4196 57th Avenue North, St. Petersburg
McKinnie/Clayton Family Home Dedication (sponsor by TIAA Bank)
Friday, June 24 – 11:15am
4080 57th Avenue North, St. Petersburg
Jones Family Home Dedication (sponsored by Jerry & Mary Miller)
Friday, June 24 – 12noon
3998 56th Avenue North, St Petersburg
Media are invited to attend this event. Photo opportunities will be available after the ceremony. Please contact Morgan Brochetti at (727) 512-3781 for more information.
Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County and West Pasco Counties
Since 1985, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties has served over 900 families and individuals through its new home buyer and neighborhood revitalization programs using locally raised funds. Volunteers and the future homeowners construct the homes, which are sold at no profit and financed with a zero-interest loan. Habitat homeowner candidates earn 30 to 80 percent of area median income. Candidates must demonstrate need for adequate shelter; ability to pay back a zero-interest loan and willingness to partner with Habitat to invest 350 to 450 “sweat equity” hours. Mortgage monies are used to build even more homes, making each donation to Habitat a perpetual legacy to the community. Habitat believes that homeownership contributes to family stability, leading, in turn, to community stability. Additionally, the affiliate raises funds through their ReStores; home improvement outlets where donated household and building items are sold to the public. For more information about Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties, call (727) 536-4755 or visit www.habitatpwp.org.