On March 11th, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties hosted a volunteer build day for the Largo City Commission and department heads. Members of the Commission and their team joined forces to build a local family’s safe and affordable home.
The build site, donated by City of Largo, will be home to the Severino family. Nikole, who joined the team on the build site, is a single mother, Medical Assistant, Office Manager, and Director of Clinical Services for the Florida Spine Center. She is working towards her dream of homeownership to provide her four children a stable place to live. “I am building because I want to create a stable life, home, and foundation for my children,” Nikole says. “I want them to always have a home.”
The City of Largo has been a transformational partner for Habitat, providing opportunities for two of its largest communities in Greater Ridgecrest and Dansville. These areas have become home to over 40 families. The landscaping day this morning put another family one-step closer to this dream of homeownership.
Elected Officials who attended are as follows:
- Mayor Woody Brown
- Vice Mayor Michael Smith
- Commissioner Jamie Robinson
- Commissioner Donna Holck
- Henry Schubert, City Manager
- Maggie Paluch, Assistant City Manager
- Cheryl Reed, Community Development Director
- Shelby Beauchemin, Director of Environmental Services
- Meridy Semones, Performance & Budget Director
- Matthew York, Director Of Public Works
- Carson King, Legislative Aide to Mayor and City Commission
Advocacy is a key pillar for the Habitat for Humanity organization. Our affiliate is making a further commitment and investment advocating for the advancement of affordable homeownership in our community. Through advocacy, Habitat seeks to influence policy and promote affordability among the broader housing continuum. To learn more, visit https://habitatpwp.org/advocate/.
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 two 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.
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