Habitat Pinellas and St. Jude Great Commission Community Development Corporation Partner on First Home Build in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg – On Tuesday, December 4th, 2018 representatives from Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County and St. Jude Great Commission Community Development Corporation (CDC) gathered to break ground in St. Petersburg. Habitat Pinellas will be partnering with St. Jude Great Commission CDC to complete their first home, for a low income family.
With similar goals of affordable housing and community empowerment, the partnership was a natural fit. “Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County is committed to increasing affordable housing opportunities within South St. Pete”, said Mike Sutton, CEO of Habitat Pinellas. “We are able to use our resources and 33+ years of experience to increase the capacity of other nonprofit affordable housing providers through collaboration. We are excited to break ground on St. Jude’s first home!”
“We are very happy to partner with Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County and Hancock Whitney as we all work to bring affordable home ownership opportunities to families in South St. Petersburg”, said Jo Ann Nesbitt, President/CEO of St. Jude Great Commission CDC. “Habitat, Hancock Whitney, and St. Jude have a shared mission to improve the lives of families through home ownership. Affordable housing remains a challenge for many low income families in St. Petersburg, and we believe this partnership will make an enormous difference in overcoming that challenge. We look forward to working together to achieve real impact in the communities we serve!”
WHO: Mike Sutton, CEO, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County
Jo Ann Nesbitt, President/CEO, St. Jude Great Commission CDC
Mark Giese, Vice President, Hancock Whitney
Karl Nurse, Habitat Pinellas Board Member
Gaby Camacho, VP of Construction and Procurement, Habitat Pinellas
Ken Rush, COO, Habitat Pinellas
James Robinson, Construction Management, St. Jude Great Commission CDC
Pastor Ed Nesbitt, St. Jude Great Commission CDC Advisory Board Member
WHAT: Habitat Pinellas has partnered with St. Petersburg-based nonprofit, St. Jude Great Commission CDC to complete their first home for a low income family. Representatives broke ground on the build site this morning.
Photo attached. From left: Karl Nurse, Habitat Pinellas Board Member; Pastor Ed Nesbitt Jr., St. Jude Great Commission CDC Advisory Board Member; Gaby Camacho, Habitat Pinellas; James Robinson, St. Jude Great Commission CDC Advisory Board Member; Mark Giese, Hancock Whitney; Jo Ann Nesbitt, St. Jude Great Commission CDC; Mike Sutton, Habitat Pinellas; Ken Rush, Habitat Pinellas.
WHERE: 2024 21st Street South, St. Petersburg
About Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County
Since 1985, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County has constructed over 500 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 $27,000 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 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 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 www.habitatpinellas.org.
About St. Jude Great Commission Community Development Corporation (CDC)
St. Jude Great Commission Community Development Corporation (CDC) is a Faith-based organization located in St. Petersburg, Florida created in 2016 to promote economic mobility and make neighborhoods great places to live. St. Jude Great Commission CDC partners with others to build affordable housing and create economic opportunities that enable people to do good and live well. They help make neighborhoods viable by strengthening the people who live there. From advancing and preserving home ownership, to opening doors to economic mobility through entrepreneurship, St. Jude Great Commission CDC is creating great opportunities and changing outcomes. For more information, visit www.stjudegreatcommissioncdc.org.