March to Home: Habitat to welcome five families to their new Habitat Homes this month.

MEDIA CONTACT
Morgan Mandelker, Chief External Relations Officer
Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties 
(727) 536-4755, ext. 203 | (727) 512-3781
mmandelker@habitatpwp.org



 MEDIA ADVISORY

March to Home: Five Habitat Home Dedications This Month

Habitat Home celebrations will occur in Largo, St. Petersburg, and Tarpon Springs.

Clearwater, FL – Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties will celebrate the completion of five homes throughout our community this month. The home dedications will occur in Largo, Lealman (St. Petersburg), and Tarpon Springs. Each family has earned their keys by completing the Habitat Homeownership program, which consists of 350-450 sweat equity hours and a robust education program featuring 36 homebuyer classes. These families each earn a 0% fixed-interest mortgage on their homes. 

The first home celebration will take place  on Tuesday, March 19th, at 9:00 am at 514 11th Ave. NW, Largo, FL 33770. The Thoni Family will open the door to their new home after months of working hard on our sites, which came after night shifts at Morton Plant Hospital. This home was made possible thanks to Habitat's Pinellas Community Partnerships. 

The Kostacky Family will earn the keys to their new home on Monday, March 25th at 9:00 am at 713 North Ave., Tarpon Springs, FL 34689. Mom, Amanda, and her children are excited to live in the home that she helped build. This home was made possible thanks to Habitat's Pinellas Community Partnerships. 

The Nizeyimana-Ntawanga Family will complete an inspiring journey to homeownership on Thursday, March 28th at 9:00 am at 4339 45th Ave. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33714. The home is located in Habitat's latest Lealman development, The Greenway, which features 12 single-family homes. This eight-person family's odyssey began in the Democratic Republic of Congo, then forced to flee to Uganda, before making their way to the United States. They will realize the American dream when they open the door to their forever home. Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital sponsored this home. 

The Houston Family will join The Greenway community when they open the door to their Habitat Home on Friday, March 29th at 9:00 am at 4330 45th Ave. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33714. Mom, Nikkita, and her children will finally have the space to grow and flourish as a family. MaintenX is the sponsor of this home. 

The Butler Family will wrap up a busy month of Habitat Home Dedications when they earn the keys to their new home on Friday, March 29th at 10:00 am at 4349 45th Ave N., St. Petersburg, FL 33714. Tangela Butler has been a Pinellas County school bus driver for over two decades and will finally fulfill her dream of owning her home. The Butler Family home is sponsored by Habitat's 2024 CEO Build, featuring 65 leaders of organizations throughout the Bay Area who united to build and finance this home. Over $200,000 was raised to make this home a reality for Tangela Butler. You can learn more about the CEO Build and its participants here. 

Media are invited to attend all home dedications. Interviews with homeowners and Habitat representatives will be granted upon request. 

Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County and West Pasco Counties

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties has served over 870 homeowner partners since 1985. Volunteers and 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 the area median income. Candidates must demonstrate the need for adequate shelter; the ability to pay back a zero-interest loan and the willingness to partner with Habitat to complete a robust homebuyer education curriculum and 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. For more information about Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties, call (727) 536-4755 or visit www.habitatpwp.org. 

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