Media Contact Photo Oppty
Sue Hoffman, Communications Director 1810 13th Avenue North
Habitat for Humanity Pinellas County St. Petersburg, FL
Office: 727-536-4755 Monday, October 4
Cell: 812-483-7141 10:00 am-11:00am
communications@HabitatPinellas.org
- For Immediate Release -
Habitat for Humanity Celebrates World Habitat Day with Home Dedication
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County celebrates World Habitat Day 2010 by dedicating the revitalization of a St. Petersburg home on Monday, October 4th at 10am. Located at 1810 13th Avenue N., this home will be a “palace” according to new owner, Flora Brown. She has worked two jobs in the past to support her family and keep her son away from violence and drugs. Flora, her five year old son Michael, and her cat Bobby look forward to stability and safety in their new home. “The Habitat program has been a gift from above,” says Flora. “We are surviving and striving for a better life.” A moving dedication ceremony is planned.
The Brown home began with a solid, existing foundation which Habitat Pinellas breathed new life into by replacing windows, floors and appliances, to name a few examples. As Flora says, “It just needed a little love.”
This home, Habitat’s 201st home in the County, is sponsored by The Roy and Ana Zellars Foundation, Inc. in memory of John B. Zellars.
“The Roy and Ana Zellars Foundation has been a great partner with us on this home,” said Sue Hoffman, Communications Director for Habitat Pinellas, “and continues to be a valued friend to Habitat Pinellas, as do the volunteers who provide many hours of construction labor along side homeowners who provide sweat equity.”
Some parents and students from St. Petersburg High School’s Campus Chapter will attend the dedication. The Campus Chapter students will be holding their own World Habitat Day Awareness exhibit and call to action at 1:30pm outside the school at 2501 5th Avenue N.
Habitat Pinellas focuses on “green” energy efficiency and insurance-friendly design for our homes - sustainability measures that lower insurance and utility rates. This translates into an estimated $1,035 yearly savings for homeowners.
Additionally, Habitat for Humanity recently achieved the rank of No. 8 on the Builder 100 list, marking the first time the nonprofit, due to the combined building efforts of all the U.S. affiliates, has been among the top 10 biggest builders in the United States. The Pinellas County Habitat affiliate contributed to this ranking with 29 closings in the 2009-2010 fiscal year, up from 22 the prior year. Despite a down economy, Habitat Pinellas, thanks to the support of donors and volunteers, has continued to build and renovate homes to address the growing need for affordable housing in our community.
More about Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County
Since 1985, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County has constructed 201 homes for struggling families in Pinellas County, 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 Pinellas homeowner candidates earn 30 to 80 percent of area median income. For Pinellas County, that translates to as little as $17,800 a year for a family of four. Candidates must also demonstrate need for adequate shelter; ability to pay back a zero-interest loan and willingness to partner with Habitat Pinellas to invest 250 to 350 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 home ownership contributes to family stability, leading in turn to community stability. Additionally, Habitat Pinellas raises funds through their ReStore, a home improvement outlet where donated household and building items are sold to the public. For more information about Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County, contact (727) 536-4755 or visit http://www.habitatpinellas.org/
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