Orlando, Florida Local News
Habitat for Humanity expands affordable housing efforts with new development in Seminole County
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Habitat for Humanity has been providing affordable housing for nearly 50 years, and on Wednesday, in Seminole County, significant progress was made on a first-time effort. It’s not just one Habitat home but an actual Habitat neighborhood.”We’re putting a subdivision in the middle of a neighborhood, right across the street from an Elementary School,” said Andria Herr, Seminole County Commission vice-chair. Things are shaping up on West 20th Street in Sanford. Houses are taking shape, and the road is being prepared for pavement.”Not only helping six families get into safe, decent, affordable housing, but we’re also transforming a neighborhood also,” said Kelly Pisciotta, who is with Habitat for Humanity. Seminole County seeded this venture with American Rescue Plan dollars and structured it so future projects would be funded.”We seed the funding, then once the homes sell, the money comes back for the next program,” Herr said.Around Central Florida, we see plenty of brand-new Habitat for Humanity Houses, but often, it’s one here or one there. But this is a subdivision with half a dozen homes.”As these home buyers are making their payments, we’re going to be able to help more families in the future,” Pisciotta said.Kolby NiBlack attended the August 2023 groundbreaking and will soon be one of the homeowners.”Just to know that it’s ours, just to know that it’s going to be ours, is what I’m mostly excited about,” NiBlack said. There’s joy in home ownership when rent is so hard to come by.”When you look at what an average rent is in our community, and it’s $2,000 for a one-bedroom apartment, that shows the need when we can get people into home ownership with a payment maybe 50 percent or slightly more than that,” Pisciotta said.County leaders and staff spiffed up the landscaping even as construction continues, knowing the big celebration is still to come in a few weeks.”I think that’s going to be a crack a bottle of champagne over the doorway day,” Herr said. They hope to be handing over the keys in less than a month.
Habitat for Humanity has been providing affordable housing for nearly 50 years, and on Wednesday, in Seminole County, significant progress was made on a first-time effort.
It’s not just one Habitat home but an actual Habitat neighborhood.
“We’re putting a subdivision in the middle of a neighborhood, right across the street from an Elementary School,” said Andria Herr, Seminole County Commission vice-chair.
Things are shaping up on West 20th Street in Sanford. Houses are taking shape, and the road is being prepared for pavement.
“Not only helping six families get into safe, decent, affordable housing, but we’re also transforming a neighborhood also,” said Kelly Pisciotta, who is with Habitat for Humanity.
Seminole County seeded this venture with American Rescue Plan dollars and structured it so future projects would be funded.
“We seed the funding, then once the homes sell, the money comes back for the next program,” Herr said.
Around Central Florida, we see plenty of brand-new Habitat for Humanity Houses, but often, it’s one here or one there. But this is a subdivision with half a dozen homes.
“As these home buyers are making their payments, we’re going to be able to help more families in the future,” Pisciotta said.
Kolby NiBlack attended the August 2023 groundbreaking and will soon be one of the homeowners.
“Just to know that it’s ours, just to know that it’s going to be ours, is what I’m mostly excited about,” NiBlack said.
There’s joy in home ownership when rent is so hard to come by.
“When you look at what an average rent is in our community, and it’s $2,000 for a one-bedroom apartment, that shows the need when we can get people into home ownership with a payment maybe 50 percent or slightly more than that,” Pisciotta said.
County leaders and staff spiffed up the landscaping even as construction continues, knowing the big celebration is still to come in a few weeks.
“I think that’s going to be a crack a bottle of champagne over the doorway day,” Herr said.
They hope to be handing over the keys in less than a month.
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